Jaundice in Adults

Your past liver diagnosis might be the cause of your jaundice. Most people who have liver diseases have inflammation or injury of the liver that occurs over many years. The result can be scarring of the liver, called cirrhosis. If your liver has cirrhosis, it is not possible for the liver to process and clear away bilirubin. Jaundice can result.

Common causes of progressive liver disease are hepatitis C, hepatitis B, alcoholic hepatitis, hemochromatosis, autoimmune hepatitis, and other autoimmune illnesses.

You should be evaluated by a physician, such as your primary care doctor or a doctor in an emergency department, as soon as possible.