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Jaundice is a medical condition characterized by the yellowing of the eyes and parts of the skin. It results from an excess of bilirubin—a yellow pigment formed during the breakdown of red blood cells—in the body. Normally, bilirubin is processed by the liver and excreted as waste. However, when this process is disrupted, bilirubin builds up in the blood, causing visible yellowing in the skin, eyes, and other tissues.
Although jaundice is not a disease in itself nor contagious, health experts warn that it is often a symptom of underlying health issues, some of which can be fatal if left untreated.
Speaking to PT Health Watch, Dr. Adeleye Moses of Garki General Hospital, Abuja, explained that jaundice in adults can be a sign of liver-related conditions such as:
While jaundice can indicate severe liver problems in adults, it is more common and often more dangerous in newborns. Globally, jaundice is a leading cause of hospitalisation in the first week of life.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), jaundice affects up to 60% of full-term and 80% of pre-term infants within their first week of life. In Nigeria, it remains a leading cause of preventable brain damage, physical and mental disability, and early death in infants.
Dr. Moses attributes neonatal jaundice to several conditions, including:
He noted that newborns’ livers are not yet mature, making it harder for them to process and eliminate bilirubin efficiently.
“Neonatal jaundice is physiological. The conjugation mechanism of the infant is not fully developed,” he said.
While yellowing of the eyes is the most obvious sign of jaundice, visual diagnosis can be inaccurate, especially in children with darker skin tones.
Dr. Chibueze Ezichi, a medical officer at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, explained that healthcare workers use a technique called blanching to check for jaundice in newborns. This involves gently pressing the baby’s skin to see if it turns yellow before the natural skin tone returns.
In light-skinned babies, jaundice may also be visible on the soles of the feet.
In adults, other symptoms may depend on the underlying condition and could include:
Prevention largely depends on early detection and managing the underlying causes.
A Harvard Medical School study recommends monitoring a newborn’s bilirubin levels and ensuring regular feeding during the early days of life.
Dr. Ezichi explained that anything that causes the rapid breakdown of red blood cells can trigger jaundice. For instance, severe malaria is a major risk factor in Nigeria due to its ability to cause massive red cell destruction.
“Preventing malaria is one way to reduce the risk of jaundice,” he said.
This includes:
People with sickle cell disease or hemolytic anaemia are at greater risk and must focus on managing crises that lead to red blood cell destruction.
“The focus is not on preventing jaundice itself but on managing the crises or conditions that cause red blood cell breakdown,” Dr. Ezichi added.
For example, treating conditions like hyper hemolytic crisis or sequestration crisis in sickle cell patients helps prevent dangerous bilirubin buildup.
Prevention largely depends on early detection and managing the underlying causes.
A Harvard Medical School study recommends monitoring a newborn’s bilirubin levels and ensuring regular feeding during the early days of life.
Dr. Ezichi explained that anything that causes the rapid breakdown of red blood cells can trigger jaundice. For instance, severe malaria is a major risk factor in Nigeria due to its ability to cause massive red cell destruction.
Jaundice should never be ignored, especially in infants. While it is not a disease, it is a red flag that something is wrong in the body—whether it’s liver dysfunction, infection, or a blood-related disorder. The key lies in early diagnosis, proper treatment, and preventing the underlying conditions that cause red blood cells to break down abnormally.
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