Jaundice or jaundice occurs due to the entry of bilirubin into the bloodstream so that it often makes the skin and the whites of the eyes appear yellow. Bilirubin is the normal yellowish pigment that is produced when the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in old red blood cells breaks down. Furthermore, the liver will help the body excrete bilirubin through feces and urine. As the liver begins to function, jaundice may also occur in the baby two to four days after birth. Meanwhile, premature babies may experience it a few weeks after birth. Adults and pets may also develop jaundice due to impaired liver function or increased blood cell breakdown. Knowing how to recognize jaundice will speed up your recovery.
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Method 1 of 3: Checking for Signs of Jaundice on the Skin
Step 1. Notice the yellow eyes and skin
If you have jaundice, the whites of your eyes and the rest of your skin may turn yellow. This discoloration may start on the face and gradually spread to other parts of the body.
- Prepare a mirror in a room with bright natural light. Always use natural light whenever possible as bulbs and light beams may be colored.
- Gently press your forehead or nose. Pay attention to the color of your skin as the pressure is released. If you see a yellowish tinge to the skin when the pressure is released, you may have jaundice.
- To examine your baby's skin, gently press on his forehead or nose for one second, then release. Healthy skin will instantly appear brighter before returning to normal, while jaundiced skin will appear slightly yellowed.
- You can also look at the gums in your baby's mouth, the soles of his feet, and the palms of his hands to check for jaundice.
- Jaundice in infants extends from the top to the bottom of the body, from the head to the toes.
- If you have a dark skin tone, or if you're in doubt whether you actually see a yellow tint, pay attention to the whites of your eyes. If it is yellowish in color, you may have jaundice.
Step 2. Watch out for itching
Jaundice may cause your skin to feel very itchy due to increased levels of toxins that accumulate in the blood vessels during the breakdown of bile (which binds to bilirubin in the liver).
This itching may be related to a blockage in the bile ducts or an underlying cirrhosis of the liver. The bile ducts carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder, and may become blocked by gallstones. While liver cirrhosis is damage to the liver that makes normal tissue replaced by scar tissue that does not function. This condition is caused by hepatitis, alcohol use, and other liver disorders
Step 3. Observe the spider-like veins under the skin
Your skin may show signs known as spider angiomas. This sign appears because the process underlying the onset of jaundice is also likely to increase circulation in the blood vessels. As a result, the blood vessels will appear very clearly under the skin.
- Spider angiomas are not caused directly by jaundice, but often occur at the same time.
- These blood vessels will blanch when pressed and most often occur in the upper body such as the trunk, arms, hands, neck, and face.
Step 4. Check for bleeding under the skin
Small purple and reddish spots that indicate that you are bleeding under the skin may develop. This occurs because damage to the liver interferes with the blood clotting process (under normal conditions, the liver produces compounds that help blood clotting). In addition, the efficiency of red blood cell breakdown and blood formation in the body also increases, as a result you will be more prone to bleeding.
Step 5. Watch for worsening bleeding and bruising
If you have jaundice, you may notice that your body tends to bruise more easily than under normal conditions. You may also notice that if you are injured, your blood takes longer to clot.
These symptoms are also related to liver damage that interferes with the formation of compounds that help blood clot
Method 2 of 3: Checking for Other Symptoms of Jaundice
Step 1. Observe the color of the stool
If you have jaundice, your stools may become discolored and pale. This color change occurs because at the time of jaundice, the bile ducts may be blocked, resulting in reduced bilirubin that comes out with feces and most of it is excreted through urine.
- Normally, most of the bilirubin is excreted in the feces.
- If the bile duct is severely blocked, the stool you pass may even be gray in color.
- Stool may be bloody or black in color if there is a bleeding complication in liver disease.
Step 2. Monitor the frequency and color of urine
Bilirubin is also normally excreted in the urine, although in smaller amounts than in the feces. However, when you have jaundice, your urine will be darker in color due to the higher levels of bilirubin that comes out with the urine.
- You may also notice a reduced frequency of urination. So, be sure to observe the frequency of urination, the volume of urine excreted, and the color to convey to the doctor.
- Changes in urine may occur before your skin changes color. So remember to tell your doctor the first time you notice your urine is dark in color.
- Urine in newborns should be clear. If the baby has jaundice, the color of his urine will turn dark yellow.
Step 3. Feel if your stomach swells
If you have jaundice, your liver and spleen may enlarge, and so will your stomach. In addition, liver disease may also cause fluid to accumulate in the stomach.
- Swelling in the abdomen is usually a follow-up sign of a disease that also causes jaundice, and not the jaundice itself.
- You may also feel pain in the abdomen because an underlying disease may be causing an infection or inflammation of the liver.
Step 4. Watch for swelling of the feet, ankles, and soles
The disease that causes jaundice may also cause swelling of the feet, ankles and soles of the feet.
The elimination of bilirubin through the urine is aided by the liver, and when this function is impaired, or there is increased pressure on the circulation associated with the liver, fluid accumulates in different parts of the body, causing swelling
Step 5. Check if you have a fever
Jaundice can cause a fever of 38 C or more.
The cause of the fever may be a liver infection (such as hepatitis) underlying jaundice or a blockage in the bile ducts
Step 6. Observe the baby's behavior
Your baby may show other symptoms such as screaming, crying loudly, being unable to calm down, not wanting to eat, being weak or difficult to wake up.
- If you are discharged from the hospital with your baby less than 72 hours after delivery, you may need to make a follow-up appointment with your doctor the next 2 days to check for jaundice in your baby.
- Severe jaundice in babies who don't get treatment can cause permanent brain damage.
Step 7. Ask for a bilirubin test
The most accurate way to determine if a baby has jaundice is to check for elevated levels of bilirubin in his blood. If the bilirubin level is elevated, your doctor may order other tests to determine the cause, check for other complications, and check liver function.
A transcutaneous bilirubin test may also be given to the baby. A special marker will be placed on the baby's skin and measure the reflection of the special light that is absorbed. This test allows doctors to calculate bilirubin levels
Step 8. Watch for other signs of severe liver disease
These symptoms may include weight loss, nausea and vomiting, or even vomiting blood.
Method 3 of 3: Checking for Jaundice in Pets
Step 1. Observe the skin of your dog or cat
While it may be difficult to observe the skin color of certain breeds of dogs and cats, the skin of all dogs and cats can turn yellowish.
- Check your pet's gums, whites of eyes, base of ears, nostrils, stomach and genitals as jaundice may be more pronounced in these areas.
- If you suspect your pet has jaundice, take it to the vet for a check-up. If your pet has jaundice, it means there is an underlying disease (such as hepatitis or a liver problem) and requires veterinary care, or the consequences could be fatal.
Step 2. Observe the color of the animal's urine and feces
Just like in humans, urine in animals may turn darker due to an increase in the amount of bilirubin excreted. However, unlike humans, the stool may also turn darker and orange in color.
Your pet may also pass more urine than usual
Step 3. Monitor the animal's diet
Animals suffering from jaundice may feel very thirsty, but have no appetite, and experience weight loss with an enlarged abdomen. All of them are symptoms that occur together with jaundice due to the underlying disease.
Step 4. Observe the animal's behavior
Just like humans, your pet may also appear lethargic and have difficulty breathing. Both are also caused by an underlying disease.
Tips
- Jaundice can be experienced by people of all races and ethnicities.
- If you eat a lot of foods rich in beta-carotene (such as pumpkin and carrots), your skin may turn slightly yellowish, but your eyes will not. This is not a sign of jaundice and is only related to your diet, not your liver function.
