Jaundice, << JAWN dihs, >> is a yellowish discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes. It results from an increased amount of bilirubin, a reddish-yellow pigment, in the blood. Bilirubin is formed by the breakdown of hemoglobin, a pigment in red blood cells. The liver removes bilirubin from the blood stream and discharges it in the bile. Bile is a digestive liquid secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder (see Bile). Thus, jaundice results from either excessive production of bilirubin or reduced discharge of bile. Jaundice is not a disease but a symptom of various diseases. Jaundice in dogs, sheep, and other animals is sometimes called yellows.
Hemolytic jaundice results from an increased breakdown of red blood cells, which causes a greater concentration of bilirubin in the blood. Hepatocellular jaundice occurs when the liver is damaged so that it cannot secrete enough bile. Bilirubin collects in the body, causing jaundice. Obstructive jaundice has various causes that involve the blocking of the bile ducts.
Many babies are born with physiologic jaundice, which occurs if the body cannot process all the bilirubin it produces. In most cases, this condition disappears within two weeks after birth.
