Jaundice

Jaundice commonly develops in babies, usually soon after birth. However it can affect adults also.

It occurs due to an increased level of the yellowish bile pigments, known as bilirubin, in the blood. Bilirubin is a by-product of the body's natural process of breaking down & removing old & damaged red blood cells.

It is usually flushed out of the body by the liver, just like many other naturally occurring waste products. When the liver cannot do so for some reason, the level of bilirubin in the blood rises and causes jaundice.

The most common symptom of jaundice is yellowing of the skin, eyes, tongue and urine. Depending on the underlying cause, other symptoms may include fatigue, headache, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, abdominal pain, skin itching and pale-coloured stools.