Jaundice is caused by a substance called bilirubin, which is a byproduct of old red blood cells. As red blood cells die and the body makes new ones, the old cells travel to the liver. The liver processes these old cells, which eventually pass out through your stool. If the blood cells die faster then they are replenished or the liver cannot process them properly, then jaundice results. It is important to see your doctor, as jaundice is not a disease but rather a sign or symptom of a disease that can be life-threatening.
Causes
In adults, when jaundice is caused by disease and begins to pose a health risk, it is called pathologic jaundice. According to the National Institutes of Health, it can be the result of blood incompatibilities, certain cancers, blood diseases, hepatitis, dehydration, cirrhosis, bile duct blockage, liver disease, Gilbert syndrome or infections, or because of medication you may be taking as well as other conditions.
Primary Signs
The most common sign of jaundice is a yellowish color to the skin and the sclerae or the whites of the eyes. This is different from other conditions in which the skin is yellowish but the eyes remain white. If you have jaundice, then both the skin and eyes develop a yellowish tint.
Other Signs
With jaundice the inside of the mouth and mucus membranes can also become yellow. As more bilirubin is present in the body, this yellowish coloring of all areas can begin to to turn brown. Your stool can become light or clay-colored and your urine may become brown. This occurs because bilirubin, which gives your stools their brown color, is absent from the stools and is instead being excreted when you urinate.
Considerations
The darkness of the color change and the number of areas of the body affected depend on the severity of your condition and what the underlying problem is. Because bilirubin can be found in higher concentration in the urine when there is a problem, your doctor can detect a disease through a urine test before the signs become worse.
