Liver Jaundice Causes

Jaundice, sometimes called yellow jaundice, is a symptom of an underlying problem related to liver function and red blood cells.

It is sometimes called yellow jaundice because the underlying disorder causes the skin and the whites of the eyes to look yellow. In extreme cases, the yellow color can even begin to have more of a brown tone.

Here's what causes the discoloration in the eyes and skin.

The liver performs dozens of important functions in the human body. One of them is aiding in the production of new red blood cells and the chemical breakdown of older ones.

Bilirubin and jaundice The normal life span of a red blood cell is about four months. When a cell reaches that age, it begins to die in the spleen. A substance called hemoglobin is released. Hemoglobin is the part of the cell that actually carries oxygen through your circulatory system.

This leaves a substance called bilirubin. It is transferred from the spleen to the liver. Bilirubin is considered to be waste product, and after it is processed by the liver, it is destined to leave the body eventually when you have a bowel movement.

Bilirubin contains a yellow-colored pigment.

If excess bilirubin builds up in the body, it makes your skin and eyes look yellow. Often, this happens because of a liver problem of some kind. You might have a gallstone that's blocking a duct. Perhaps your liver or gallbladder is inflamed, which could cause a blockage. And unfortunately, there's also a chance of a malignant tumor of some kind.

Certain drugs can cause a build up of bilirubin, and women who are pregnant are also prone to excess amounts. Genetic disorders and bowl duct abnormalities are also possible.

But the most common cause of this condition is some form of liver disease. The most common liver diseases are hepatitis, cirrhosis and fatty liver syndrome. These can greatly compromise liver function, and anything that retards liver function can result in an imbalance in the amounts of bilirubin in the body.

Jaundice symptoms Besides yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes, there are some other jaundice symptoms:

• stools that appear to be a lighter color than usual
• darker than normal urine. It may even appear to be brown in some cases.
• itching which can range from mild to extremely intense and annoying

A type of jaundice called neonatal jaundice or newborn jaundice is relatively common in the first week of an infant's life. It appears often when the delivery is premature (usually before the 36 week mark), because the liver has not yet matured enough to handle processing bilirubin.

Jaundice treatment To treat jaundice, you must treat the underlying problem, which, once again, is actually a liver problem. There is no treatment for jaundice itself, since it is a symptom and not an actual disease.

There is also not a specific test you can take that specifically reveals the cause of jaundice. To determine the cause, your doctor will have to run liver function tests to find out the source of the liver disorder.   

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