Jaundice: Symptom and Causes

Symptoms

The most pervasive sign of jaundice is a yellow tinge to the skin and sclerae (whites of the eyes). This usually starts at the head and spreads down the body.

Other symptoms of jaundice include:

• Pruritis (itchiness)   
• Fatigue                                 
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Paler than usual stools
• Dark urine

Causes

Jaundice occurs if there is a dysfunction of the normal metabolism or excretion of bilirubin.
Jaundice in adults is often indicative of:

• alcohol abuse
• infections
• liver cancer
• cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
• gallstones (cholesterol stones made of hardened fat (lipid) material or pigment stones made of bilirubin)
• hepatitis (swelling of the liver that decreases its ability to function)
• pancreatic cancer
• parasites in the liver
• blood disorders, such as hemolytic anemia (a decreased amount of red blood cells in the body, which leads to fatigue and weakness)
• an adverse reaction to or overdose of a medication, such as acetaminophen