Jaundice:This condition involves a yellow discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes due to elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood. The yellow tint can also affect other tissues and body fluids. Historically known as "morbus regius" or the "regal disease," it was once thought that only a king's touch could cure it. Normally, when red blood cells are removed from circulation, hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule, breaks down into bilirubin. This bilirubin is then transported to the liver and expelled into the intestines as part of bile. Jaundice can signal liver or biliary issues. If bilirubin excretion is blocked, it builds up in the blood, causing jaundice. Liver cell inflammation or abnormalities can impede bilirubin's incorporation into bile, or an obstruction in the bile ducts, such as a gallstone or tumor, might occur. Jaundice may also arise from excessive red blood cell breakdown, known as hemolysis, which releases too much bilirubin into the bloodstream. This is common in hemolytic anemias, unlike aplastic anemias where red cell production is insufficient. Newborns often experience jaundice due to some hemolysis during birth and their immature livers' temporary inability to process bilirubin efficiently. In Gilbert syndrome, a genetic condition, there's a slight increase in blood bilirubin levels, causing mild jaundice. This condition is usually identified by chance during routine liver function tests and causes no symptoms or complications.The metaphorical use of "jaundice" in phrases like "to view things with a jaundiced eye" suggests a perspective of cynicism or distaste, possibly mirroring the aversion to food seen in severe jaundice, which often leads to appetite loss and nausea. Contrary to popular belief, "jaundice" does not originate from the French "jaune" (yellow). It derives from the Latin "galbinus," meaning a light greenish-yellow, which evolved into "jaunisse" in Old French and eventually "jaundice" in English. In French, "jaundice" still translates to "jaunisse."The term "icterus" is synonymous with jaundice, and a person with jaundice is described as icteric. The condition of having unusually high bilirubin levels in the blood is known as hyperbilirubinemia.
