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Article: Jaundice
- Article from:
- Complete Human Diseases and Conditions
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Jaundice
What Are Bilirubin and Bile?
What Causes Jaundice?
Is Jaundice a Disease?
How Is Jaundice Diagnosed and Treated?
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Jaundice (JAWN-dis) is a yellowish discoloration of the skin and of the whites of the eyes. It is caused by accumulation in the body of a bile pigment called bilirubin (bil-e-ROO-bin). Jaundice is not itself a disease, but it is a sign of several disorders that affect the liver, the blood, the gallbladder, or bile, which is a fluid secreted by the liver to aid in the digestion of fats. The medical term for jaundice is icterus (IK-ter-us).
KEYWORDS
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Bilirubin
Hemolysis
Hepatic function
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