Adult jaundice can be caused by a variety of conditions, and in severe cases can be life-threatening, requiring hospitalization for a thorough medical evaluation to determine its cause.
Adult jaundice mainly consists of prehepatic disorders such as hereditary spherocytosis, thalassemia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), drugs or other toxins, and autoimmune diseases.
Hepatic diseases: e.g. cirrhosis, drugs or other toxins, Crigler-Najjar syndrome, autoimmune diseases, hepatocellular carcinoma.
Post-hepatic diseases: e.g. gallstones, cancers (pancreatic, gallbladder and bile duct), bile duct stenosis, cholangitis, pancreatitis.
It should be noted that liver cancer, pancreatitis, gallbladder cancer and other tumors are highly malignant, and often in advanced stage at the time of diagnosis, with low rate of surgical resection and high rate of death, therefore, adults with jaundice should be hospitalized in time to clarify the cause of the disease.
Warm reminder: adult jaundice is mostly caused by diseases, should be early to consult the doctor, clear cause, targeted treatment.