Jaundice Symptoms

Jaundice is a liver disorder that spreads through contaminated water. It is essentially a state in which there is an increase in the bile pigments, namely bilrubin, in the blood resulting in a yellowish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes. Sometimes even the eyes turn yellow. If detected and treated well, jaundice is never fatal. However, the patient will need to strictly adhere to an allowed diet. The most common type of jaundice is the one caused due to viral hepatitis; however, it is also not uncommon to find instances of neonatal jaundice in which a new born baby shows symptoms of jaundice. There are a number of tell-tale signs to find out if you have contracted jaundice.

The first signs are usually fatigue, constant vomiting and a feeling of constant weariness. The color of the urine will be yellow or even red depending on the severity of the disorder. A complete loss of appetite, weight loss, malaise and weakness is also noticed. A bitter taste in the mouth and nausea are also common symptoms. This can last for up to six days. The next stage is clinical or icteric stage. In some cases, the clinical stage may start as late as 2 weeks from the commencement of jaundice. This stage usually lasts for about two to three weeks. The most commonly seen symptoms of this phase are abdominal tenderness and indigestion coupled with pruritus. One may also experience abdominal pain located around the liver region. Patients also exhibit a slow pulse, pale feces, and an itching skin. The itch is due to the presence of the hepatitis virus. Depending on the severity, the skin may also show rashes or hives. At its peak, the disorder turns the eyes and skin yellow. The scalp will also start to show a yellowish discoloration.

The third and final stage of jaundice is the posticteral stage or the recuperation stage. This stage is characterized by a reduction in the symptoms. Inflammation of the liver, a characteristic accompaniment of jaundice, reduces considerably. The patient also starts to show higher energy levels. The vomiting should be completely gone by this time and the yellowish color of the urine too starts paling. As the liver disorder further reduces, patients exhibit an increase in appetite and tend to gain weight. This stage may last from three to twelve weeks. Patients recovering from hepatitis B, C or E usually need a longer recuperation period.