Do I Have Jaundice (Icterus)?

Do you have yellow tinged skin and eyes (yellow discoloration usually starting at the head and spreading down the body)?

Do you have dark urine (like the color of beer)?

Do you have pale, white, or clay-colored stool?

Do you have severe itching, which can sometimes be so intense that you leave marks on your skin by scratching?

Do you experience any of the following symptoms: constant fatigue (unexplained, persistent, and relapsing exhaustion), abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, nausea, vomiting or fever?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have jaundice (icterus).

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have jaundice (icterus). Jaundice is a medical condition and can be sign of various diseases. The main characteristic of jaundice is a yellowish tint of the skin and the whites of the eyes. Jaundice is caused by an increased level of pigment in the blood, called bilirubin. Depending on the blood level of bilirubin, the yellow discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes may be of varying intensity, sometimes even barely noticeable. Diagnosis of jaundice includes a range of tests and it is treated by managing the underlying cause.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have jaundice. Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by increased level of bilirubin in the blood. Jaundice is a sign of various underlining conditions such as problems with the liver, pancreas, or gallbladder, blood disorders, infections etc. It is important that you see your doctor right away. Diagnosis is based on your medical history, physical exam, blood and urine tests, imaging tests or liver biopsy. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and includes a change in your diet or lifestyle, a wide range of medications or surgery.