American Liver Society

Jaundice Symptoms

ALL jaundice in an infant, child, or adult should be medically evaluated. ALWAYS call your doctor if jaundice is present.

What to expect at your health care provider's office?

The health care provider will perform a physical examination. To help diagnose the cause of yellow skin, your health care provider will ask medical history questions, such as:

Is the inside of the mouth (mucous membranes) yellow?
Are the eyes yellow?
When did the jaundice start?
Has the jaundice occurred repeatedly?
What other symptoms are present?

The following diagnostic tests may be performed:
blood serum bilirubin
liver function tests and cholesterol
prothrombin time
complete blood count
ultrasound of the abdomen
liver biopsy
urine and fecal urobilinogen

Prevention

Feed babies frequently and don't let them become dehydrated.

With jaundice, the important thing to prevent is kernicterus -- toxic levels of bilirubin accumulating in the brain. Early identification and treatment of jaundice will usually prevent kernicterus, whatever the cause.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003243.htm

Update Date: 6/14/2004

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