Jaundice
Also known as Icterus, Hyperbilirubinemia, Yellow discoloration syndrome, Bilirubin metabolic disorder, Peeliya (local term)
Introduction
Jaundice is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by the yellow discoloration of the skin, sclerae, and mucous membranes due to elevated serum bilirubin levels exceeding 2 to 3 mg/dL. Bilirubin, a tetrapyrrolic bile pigment, is formed during the catabolism of heme derived from senescent erythrocytes. The condition signals an underlying disorder in bilirubin metabolism, transport, or excretion, often linked to pre-hepatic, hepatic, or post-hepatic etiologies.
