Symptoms of Jaundice in Early Stage | Causes & Diagnosis
Jaundice is one of the most concerning health conditions that has an association with the liver.
The most visible symptoms of jaundice are that the affected individual’s skin and eyes turn yellowish.
Jaundice usually occurs when the liver cannot handle bilirubin as it is supposed to. This leads to a bilirubin build in the bloodstream beyond a safe level.
Jaundice symptoms are mild and difficult to notice in the early stages but may worsen and become more visible if it is left untreated.
Knowing about the early symptoms may help you to notice the initial changes in the body in the early stages so that an individual can go through timely diagnosis and treatment.
This can save affected individuals from potential severe liver complications.
In this blog, we are going to focus on Jaundice in adults and when to worry. Let's begin with its symptoms.
Adult Jaundice: Symptoms of Jaundice in Early Stage
Pale skin and yellow eyes are the most obvious symptoms, which are followed by a few subtle changes in the early stages.
Here are a few common early symptoms that an individual should look for.
Urine colour changes to dark yellow or brown.
An individual has pale stool
Fever and flu-like symptoms
Sudden lack of appetite or losing interest in food.
Vomiting or stomach upset after eating food
Persistent Tiredness
If your skin starts to itch
If the individual feels heaviness, discomfort or pain in their abdomen. The abdomen is the place where the liver is located
If you think your symptoms match the above symptoms, do not panic. Jaundice is a curable health condition with timely medical intervention.
If you are residing in Patna, Book an appointment with Dr Vijay Prakash at Big Apollo Spectro Hospital in Patna is the best liver specialist in Patna.
Is Jaundice Dangerous in Adults?
Jaundice in adults is rarely a standalone health condition. As earlier in this blog, we learned that an individual can develop jaundice from several conditions, from red blood cell breakdown to gallbladder cancer and pancreatic tumour. Therefore, the answer to this question is obviously yes.
If you or any individual has been suffering from jaundice and starts noticing any of the following signs, needs immediate medical consultation.
Sudden confusion,
Drowsiness, or difficulty waking up (possible signs of severe liver dysfunction).
Vomiting blood
High fiver
Intense abdominal pain
Black Stool
Important Note: Jaundice can be life-threatening. Hence, you should not delay your jaundice test and treatment any longer.
Causes of Jaundice in Adults
An individual can develop jaundice because of any one of the following three conditions, all related to bilirubin.
Reason One: An individual can develop jaundice if his/ her red blood cell breakdown has surpassed the liver's ability to filter out the bilirubin from the bloodstream.
This type of jaundice has been termed prehepatic jaundice, as it develops before bilirubin production. Hemolytic anaemia is one of the common causes for this condition.
Reason Two: Jaundice developed in this phase is known as hepatic jaundice. This jaundice occurs because the liver can't remove enough bilirubin from the bloodstream.
An individual may suffer from hepatic jaundice if he/she has liver failure. Infections, Autoimmune disorders and some medicines can lead an individual's liver to this condition.
Reason Three: In this condition, a blockage stops bilirubin from draining into your bile ducts.
Jaundice developed due to this condition is known as Obstructive jaundice. Gallstones, gallbladder cancer. Inflammation and pancreatic tumours are the common causes for this type of jaundice.
Hence, you may develop jaundice due to any of the underlying health issues that affect bilirubin filtration out of the bloodstream. But how would an individual know that he/ she has developed jaundice?
Jaundice Diagnosis And Treatment
Jaundice is primarily diagnosed by a bilirubin blood test, which measures direct or indirect bilirubin levels in the bloodstream.
However, there are more prominent tests that are often used to diagnose the underlying causes of the jaundice.
Liver Function Tests (LFTs): To check whether the liver is causing jaundice.
Complete Blood Count (CBC): To evaluate overall health and detect conditions like hemolytic anemia, which can increase red blood cell breakdown and cause jaundice.
Jaundice is not a disease; it is a health complication that has developed due to underlying causes such as red blood cell breakdown and liver disease. Infections and bile duct blockage.
Hence, jaundice is curable, and if we treat the underlying cause, such as Antiviral or antibiotic medications or surgery for a blockage in the bile duct.
To know more about the treatment, you can visit Big Apollo Spectra Hospital, the best super speciality hospital in Patna. Here, our medical professionals will guide you through jaundice tests and treatment options in depth.
Signs of Recovery From Jaundice in Adults
After all these things, there is one obvious question that remains to be answered: How would you know that you are recovering from Jaundice?
The following are the signs that indicate that your jaundice treatment is improving your condition.
Your appetite is returning.
You are noticing your urine and stool have returned to normal colour.
Your pale skin and yellowish whites of your eyes have started to lighten
Less tiredness and improved energy and stamina.
Your bilirubin level is going back to normal levels in lab reports.
After diagnosis of the underlying causes and the follow-up treatment, your body may take 1-3 weeks to show signs of recovery.
Conclusion
Jaundice may appear as a simple yellowing of the skin and eyes, but it is often a signal that something deeper is affecting your body, especially your liver.
As we’ve discussed, Jaundice itself is not the disease but a warning sign linked to underlying issues such as liver dysfunction, excessive red blood cell breakdown, or bile duct obstruction.
Recognising these early signs can make a significant difference, allowing for timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment before complications arise.
Recovery from jaundice is not only possible but often quick and complete.
If you ever notice symptoms associated with jaundice, do not delay seeking medical advice. Acting early is the best way to protect your liver health and overall well-being.
