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Symptoms Of Jaundice That We Ignore

By Asha Das

Jaundice is categorized into three types. Pre-hepatic jaundice, which occurs due to increased destruction of red cells. Hepatic jaundice, which occurs due to liver cell damage and Post-hepatic jaundice, which occurs due to obstruction in the flow of bile. Most commonly we will suspect jaundice when we notice a yellowish tinge in our eyes or nail beds along with dark yellow urine. But do you know that these symptoms occur when the amount of bilirubin is already greater than the renal threshold?

Jaundice has more symptoms which we tends to avoid. Knowing about these symptoms will help you to detect jaundice in its early stage itself. This is most helpful if jaundice occurs as an epidemic in your place. Where increased bilirubin gives the ‘yellow colour symptoms', other symptoms depends mainly on the underlying cause of jaundice. Here are some common warning-signs of jaundice in adults that we generally fail to identify as the symptoms of jaundice.

Symptoms Of Jaundice That We Ignore

Yellow urine: Even though this is a common symptom of jaundice, we may ignore it in certain cases because dark yellow urine can be seen in dehydration as well. Decreased water intake will concentrate urine. But you can suspect jaundice if it is yellow with a brown tinge.

Yellow skin and eye: Slight yellow colour may not be noticeable in persons with dark coloured skin. Sometimes chances are there to consider it as skin getting pale due to anaemia.

Abdominal pain: Pain in the right side of the stomach just below the rib case and possibly extending to the upper back may be an indication of jaundice due to liver cell damage or gall stones. The liver will become palpable if it is enlarged.

Joint pain: Joint pain can occur due to many reasons. So, we cannot associate it totally with jaundice. If you have joint pain along with other symptoms that are related to jaundice, then consult your physician.

Loss of appetite: Loss of appetite is also an associated symptom of jaundice, which is usually left unnoticed. If this persists along with vomiting and yellow urine, you should suspect jaundice.

Vomiting: Vomiting can occur due to various reasons. But, if you have nausea or vomiting when there is an epidemic of hepatitis, chances are more for you to have an increased bilirubin.

Itching: Itching occurs with the obstructive kind of jaundice where the bile duct is blocked, which fails in providing bile for the metabolism of bilirubin. This results in itching all over the body.

Temperature: Increased temperature is found to be associated with jaundice which we may ignore considering as a general symptom. Fever with chills is related to jaundice.

Clay coloured stool: In case of obstructive jaundice, stool can become lighter in colour or most commonly clay-coloured. This occurs due to the obstruction of bilirubin that normally gives stool its brown colour when get converted to its final product, stercobilinogen.

Weakness:The early phase of hepatitis-A presents with non-specific weakness. If you feel weak for over two weeks with other symptoms of increased bilirubin, do not avoid it.

Story first published: Monday, April 15, 2013, 10:24 [IST]
Read more about: jaundice health disorders