Jaundice is a condition characterized by a yellow coloring of the skin and eyes. The yellow color is the result of a substance called bilirubin that is usually found in low levels in the body from the breakdown of red blood cells. Bilirubin is...
Bilirubin forms as a product of the breakdown of red blood cells in the liver. Hyperbilirubinemia occurs when too much bilirubin exists in the blood, tissues and fluids of the body. Bilirubin has a reddish-yellow color and it causes jaundice, or a...
Jaundice is “a condition characterized by yellowness of skin, whites of eyes, mucous membranes and body fluids due to deposition of bilirubin in the blood,” according to Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. Several possible...
Carrots are a fat-free and cholesterol-free food that is low in sodium and high in fiber. The vegetable is a source of antioxidant nutrients and is particularly rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, a nutrient that...
Bilirubin is a substance produced by the liver that can be found in the blood. It is normal to find bilirubin in the body; however, according to Medline Plus, excessive amounts of bilirubin in the blood may be an indicator of a medical condition...
Hyperbilirubinemia is a condition in the human body when a high amount of the bile pigment, bilirubin, is retained in the blood stream. Bilirubin is produced during the chemical process of the breakdown of hemoglobin. If the body is not able to...
Some infants are afflicted with a condition known a neonatal jaundice, which is the result of the newly formed liver not being completely functional. This leads to the buildup of a protein called bilirubin in the blood, which turns the skin and...
Jaundice, also known by its medical name of icterus, is a condition characterized by yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. The mucus membranes, such as those in the mouth, may also take on a yellow hue in people suffering from jaundice....
Autoimmune liver disease is a chronic condition wherein the immune system erroneously attacks and destroys liver cells. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reports the disorder most often presents in young adults....
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus that, once it infects a person, it remains in the body for life. CMV belongs in the herpes virus group with herpes simplex viruses, varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox) and Epstein-Barr Virus (infectious...
Production of red blood cells is dependent on vitamin B-12. Bilirubin is the byproduct of red blood cell degradation. Your body depends on the steady production of red blood cells, as well as the byproducts formed at the end of their life cycle. A...
Red blood cells have a finite lifespan of approximately 3 months in the bloodstream. Once removed from the circulation, the liver and spleen break down the red blood cells, releasing unconjugated bilirubin. Liver cells process unconjugated...
Newborn jaundice is usually detected by noticing that a baby's skin and the whites of his eyes are yellowed. The reason for this yellowing is an excess of bilirubin, which is a substance produced by the breakdown of red blood cells, and usually...
Yellow discoloration of the skin is referred to as jaundice. Red blood cells create a byproduct called bilirubin when they are replaced, which is responsible for the yellow tint to the skin or eyes. Jaundice should never be ignored, as it is often...
The gallbladder is a small pouch located just underneath the liver on the upper right side of the abdomen that stores a digestive secretion called bile. Bile helps in the digestion of fats, but occasionally this substance can harden into small...
Jaundice refers to the yellowing of skin and the whites of your eyes that occurs when your liver cannot rid the body of a yellow pigment called bilirubin. Jaundice is common in newborns, whose livers are not completely mature. This type of...
Hyperbilirubinemia is a condition in which there is too much bilirubin in the blood. Most bilirubin comes from the normal breakdown of old red blood cells. Babies are not easily able to get rid of the bilirubin and it can build up in the blood,...
Bilirubin is a natural byproduct of the breakdown of red blood cells. It is usually processed by the liver and excreted along with the rest of the body's waste. It is normal to find bilirubin in the blood, but elevated levels can be a sign of...
Elevated levels of bilirubin may indicate that a person is having a problem with their blood count or with their liver function. In addition, infants may also have high bilirubin levels for a few days following birth. The symptoms of elevated...
End stage liver disease is an irreversible condition that results from chronic liver disease and signals that liver failure is imminent. Chronic liver diseases including alcohol cirrhosis of the liver, viral hepatitis infections, liver cancers,...
Jaundice is an easily observable sign of certain health problems, especially liver problems. Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and eyes caused by an accumulation of bilirubin in your blood. Bilirubin, a yellow-brown substance, is the byproduct...
Most people tend to associate jaundice with newborn babies, but adults can get it as well. Jaundice isn't a disease in itself; it is a sign that there is something wrong with the liver or the gallbladder. Several ailments can cause people to...
Newborn and infant jaundice occurs when bilirubin builds up in the blood. The Mayo Clinic explains that the liver processes bilirubin in the blood so it can exit the body. While an infant is in the womb, the placenta removes the bilirubin but at...
Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes. This color can also be seen in conjunctival membranes such as nostrils or inside of the mouth. Jaundice results from increased levels of bilirubin in the blood that...
Jaundice is a condition marked by high levels of bilirubin in the blood. The increased bilirubin will cause an infant's skin, along with the whites of their eyes, to appear yellow. Several types of jaundice can cause brain and central nervous...
A poorly functioning liver causes bilirubin, a toxin caused by the recycling of old blood cells, to build up in the blood. A buildup of bilirubin can be related to certain illnesses, and babies can suffer from the effects of the toxin mainly...
Jaundice is a yellow discoloration in a baby's eyes and skin. According to MayoClinic.com, infant jaundice is common in babies born before 36 weeks gestation but also occurs in otherwise healthy and full-term newborns. Jaundice primarily occurs...
Jaundice is a yellowing of the eyes and skin as a result of the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is part of red blood cells and is typically broken down for excretion by the liver. Many infants have...
Jaundice is a condition that causes the skin and eyes to become discolored, turning a noticeable shade of yellow. While many people correlate jaundice with newborns, it can also occur in adults. Jaundice is a result of excess bilirubin in the...
Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes due to an increase of bile pigments in the blood. Jaundice is often symptomatic of certain diseases, such as hepatitis. Learn about the different causes of, symptoms of, and...
Liver disease is a collection of several different diseases affecting the liver. Watch this video to learn about the various diseases and how to prevent and treat them.
Cirrhosis is a condition that causes irreversible scarring of the liver. As scar tissue replaces normal tissue, blood flow through your liver is affected. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for Cirrhosis in this video.