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Jaundice, also known as icterus, is a yellowish or greenish pigmentation of the skin and sclera due to high bilirubin levels. [3] [6] Jaundice in adults is typically a sign indicating the presence of underlying diseases involving abnormal heme metabolism, liver dysfunction, or biliary-tract obstruction. [7]
Physical examination reviews clinical symptoms like degree of jaundice, vital signs and sensations of pain, further followed by urine tests, blood analysis and imaging. [3] [4] The degree of yellowish staining of the conjunctiva and skin in jaundice is proportional to hyperbilirubinemia to some extent. [6]
Jaundice of the skin or eyes is an important physical finding in biliary obstruction. Jaundice and/or clay-colored stool may raise suspicion of choledocholithiasis or even gallstone pancreatitis. [1] If the above symptoms coincide with fever and chills, the diagnosis of ascending cholangitis may also be considered.
Initially, the symptoms of biliary atresia are indistinguishable from those of neonatal jaundice, a usually harmless condition commonly seen in infants.However, infants with biliary atresia develop progressive conjugated jaundice, pale white stools, and dark urine.
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), previously known as primary biliary cirrhosis, is an autoimmune disease of the liver. [1] [2] [3] It results from a slow, progressive destruction of the small bile ducts of the liver, causing bile and other toxins to build up in the liver, a condition called cholestasis.
Clinically, jaundice or dark urine present in approximately one-third of the cases, and most of the symptoms are related to anemia. [5] Other less commonly observed causes of hemolysis include: Hemolysis secondary to drug toxicity [15] Thalassemia minor [16] Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia [17]
[19] [20] As the inflammation progresses, patients can develop constitutional symptoms similar to acute hepatitis, including fatigue, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and joint pain. [20] Jaundice can occur as well, but much later in the disease process and is typically a sign of advanced disease. [20]
Hepatomegaly is enlargement of the liver. [4] It is a non-specific medical sign, having many causes, which can broadly be broken down into infection, hepatic tumours, and metabolic disorder.