Reviewed by medical experts • For informational purposes only
What is jaundice: yellow skin and eyes from bilirubin, why it happens, who gets it and why it needs a doctor.
Jaundice is a yellow colour of the skin, the whites of the eyes and the inside of the mouth. It is a sign of another problem and not a disease on its own.
Why it happens
Red blood cells break down and make a yellow-orange pigment called bilirubin. The liver processes bilirubin, and it leaves the body through bile into the gut and in stools. Jaundice appears when too much bilirubin is made, the liver cannot process it, or bile cannot drain out.
Who gets jaundice
Common features
Why it matters
Jaundice in an adult always needs a doctor's check. The cause can range from a short infection to a blocked bile duct or serious liver disease. Jaundice in a newborn needs a paediatrician, because very high bilirubin can harm the brain.
Ayurvedic view
Ayurveda describes jaundice as kamala and links it to Pitta and the liver and blood. This is a traditional view and not a modern diagnosis. Ayurvedic care, if used, should be an adjunct to a medical diagnosis.
Key point
Yellow eyes or skin are a reason to see a doctor, not to try home or folk treatment first.
Before your appointment
Note when the yellow colour began and the colour of your urine and stools. List all medicines, herbs, supplements and alcohol use. Mention fever, itching, abdominal pain, weight loss, recent travel, injections, transfusions, tattoos and contact with others with jaundice. For a baby, note birth date, feeding pattern, wet nappies and the mother's blood group. Ask about tests, the likely cause and which signs need urgent care. Call 112 for confusion, bleeding or severe pain with fever.
Written By
Dr. Daksh
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD Pharmacology, MBBS
Last updated on
27 Sep 2022 • 06:23 PM (IST)
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Jaundice medicines depend on the cause: hepatitis care, procedures, phototherapy for babies, vaccines and cautions.
Jaundice home care: rest, fluids, no alcohol, hygiene and follow-up, and why folk cures and herbs are unsafe.
How jaundice is treated: confirm the cause, treat it, support recovery and know when hospital care is needed.
Ayurvedic view of jaundice (kamala): Pitta links, traditional herbs, limited evidence and liver-safety cautions.
How jaundice is diagnosed: history, bilirubin and liver tests, hepatitis tests, ultrasound and newborn bilirubin checks.
Causes of jaundice: red cell breakdown, hepatitis, alcohol, medicines, gallstones, bile duct blockage and newborn jaundice.
