Jaundice - yellow skin Health Article

Home Care

The cause of jaundice must be determined before treatment can be given. Follow prescribed therapy to treat the underlying cause.

Call your health care provider if

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?

• 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.

Beyond this, jaundice is a symptom of other problems that have their own prevention strategies.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics Subcommittee on Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia. Neonatal jaundice and kernicterus. Pediatrics. 2001; 108(3): 763-765.

Berk PD, Korenblat KM. Approach to the Patient with Jaundice or Abnormal Liver Test Results. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: Chap 150.

Boamah L, Balistreri WF. Manifestations of Liver Disease. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. Chap 352.

Moerschel SK. A Practical Approach to Neonatal Jaundice. Am Fam Physician. 2008; 77(9); 1255-1262.

Moyer V, Freese DK, Whitington PF, Olson AD, Brewer F, Colletti RB, Heyman MB. Guideline for the evaluation of cholestatic jaundice in infants: recommendations of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2004 Aug;39(2):115-28.

Piazza AJ, Stoll BJ. Digestive System Disorders. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: Chap 102

This article uses information by permission from Alan Greene, M.D., © Greene Ink, Inc.