Jaundice
Yellow discolouration of the skin and eyes caused by an accumulation of bilirubin.
What it means
Jaundice is yellow pigmentation of the skin, sclerae and mucous membranes resulting from raised circulating bilirubin, a breakdown product of haemoglobin.
It becomes visible when bilirubin rises to roughly twice the upper limit of normal, and is usually apparent in the whites of the eyes before the skin.
Causes are classified by the point at which the process is disrupted:
- Pre-hepatic — excessive red cell breakdown, as in haemolysis
- Hepatic — liver cell dysfunction, as in hepatitis or cirrhosis
- Post-hepatic — obstruction of bile drainage, as by a gallstone or tumour
In practice
Noted in examination findings and supported by liver function tests, in which bilirubin is reported alongside ALT, ALP and albumin. Ultrasound is usually the first imaging investigation.
Gilbert's syndrome is a common and entirely harmless inherited variant causing mild intermittent jaundice, typically during illness or fasting.
Why it matters
Jaundice in an adult always requires investigation. Accompanying pale stools and dark urine indicate an obstructive cause; jaundice with fever and abdominal pain suggests infection of the biliary tract and is a medical emergency.
Neonatal jaundice is common and usually physiological, but jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours of life, or persisting beyond two weeks, requires prompt assessment.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Mohammad Zubair Khan, GMC 7563469
Last reviewed
August 30, 2026