Dr. Sergei Vyalov, a liver specialist, stated that jaundice results from the presence of bilirubin pigment in the blood and may indicate problems with the liver, bile flow, or excessive breakdown of red blood cells.

Dr. Sergei Vyalov, a liver specialist, stated that jaundice results from the presence of bilirubin pigment in the blood and may indicate problems with the liver, bile flow, or excessive breakdown of red blood cells.A new smartphone app detects jaundice in babies.

A new smartphone app detects jaundice in babies.

Dr. Vyalov says : "Jaundice is not a disease in itself, but a symptom that appears as yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes and whites of the eyes as a result of an increase in bilirubin pigment in the blood, which is medically known as jaundice syndrome."

He adds that bilirubin is produced from the breakdown of hemoglobin , noting that jaundice is often misdiagnosed as hepatitis A, despite there being dozens of other possible causes.

Vyalov identifies the main causes of jaundice: viral hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, poisoning by toxins or drugs, gallstones, tumors of the pancreas or bile duct, and rapid breakdown of red blood cells .

He points out that jaundice poses a particular risk to newborn babies , as high levels of bilirubin in the blood can lead to bilirubin encephalopathy , which causes permanent damage to the nervous system, and the risk increases the younger the baby.

For adults and the elderly, the danger lies in the underlying disease causing the jaundice , not the symptoms themselves. Jaundice can lead to serious complications such as sepsis, acute liver failure, cirrhosis, coma, severe anemia, and hypoxia . The doctor adds that advancing age reduces the margin of safety, and the causes of jaundice become more common and serious, such as tumors and gallstones.