Question
A 31-year-old woman, as a new mother, noticed her child had an abnormality and later found out it was jaundice. What are the treatment methods for adult jaundice?
Answer
The causes of yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes are mainly two: one is the medical term “jaundice,” caused by an increase in bilirubin levels. The skin and mucous membranes can turn yellow, but the conjunctiva (the white part of the eye) turning yellow is an early and more obvious sign, with an even distribution of yellow. Adult jaundice can be caused by three reasons: hemolytic jaundice, hepatocellular jaundice, and cholestasis. Another cause of skin yellowing is the consumption of foods or medications containing yellow pigments. Overconsumption of foods rich in beta-carotene, such as carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, amaranth, and kale, can lead to skin yellowing.