Jaundiced

Jaundiced

Jaundiced (pronounced: jawn-dist) is a term used to describe a yellowish discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes, and the whites of the eyes. This condition is typically caused by an excess of bilirubin, a yellow-orange bile pigment, in the bloodstream.

Etymology

The term "jaundiced" is derived from the French word "jaune", which means yellow. It was first used in the English language in the 17th century to describe the yellowish skin discoloration associated with certain medical conditions.

Causes

Jaundice can be caused by several conditions, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, gallstones, pancreatic cancer, and hemolytic anemia. These conditions can lead to an overproduction of bilirubin or a blockage in the bile ducts that prevents bilirubin from being excreted from the body.

Symptoms

In addition to yellowing of the skin and eyes, symptoms of jaundice can include fatigue, abdominal pain, weight loss, itching, and dark urine. These symptoms can vary depending on the underlying cause of the jaundice.

Treatment

Treatment for jaundice typically involves addressing the underlying cause of the condition. This can include medications to treat infections, surgery to remove blockages in the bile ducts, or treatments to manage chronic conditions like hepatitis or cirrhosis.

Related Terms

• Bilirubin
• Hepatitis
• Cirrhosis
• Gallstones
• Pancreatic cancer
• Hemolytic anemia
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Itching
• Dark urine

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Jaundiced
• Wikipedia's article - Jaundiced

This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski