Course of disease

Icterus is a symptom of an illness or, in the context of newborns, usually a naturally occurring phenomenon. The course of the “jaundice triggering” disease is basically decisive. Depending on the cause and therapeutic measures, the course of the icterus is also determined.

Decisive for the existence of jaundice are increased concentrations of bilirubin in the blood. In most cases, the eyes first become colored and then the skin tone turns yellowish. If these are treated appropriately, the icterus also disappears, although the underlying disease may persist for a longer time and must continue to be treated.

In newborns, particularly high levels of bilirubin or indirect bilirubin can also lead to a so-called bilirubin encephalopathy. In medical terminology, this refers to pathological changes in the brain. The children can show different symptoms: These include drowsiness, shrill screaming, a weakness in drinking and seizures. The treatment is phototherapy and, if necessary, a blood exchange transfusion. The increased amount of bilirubin, especially if left untreated, can lead to a so-called kernicterus in the worst case.This is a severe nerve damage of the child’s brain, which is caused by the abnormally high concentration of bilirubin or the so-called indirect bilirubin not yet metabolized in the liver.

Duration and prognosis

The duration of an icterus depends on its cause. A general statement can therefore not be made. The same applies to the prognosis for jaundice.

For example, if the gallstone disease is considered “harmless”, a surgical intervention will usually help to alleviate the symptoms. The jaundice is then eliminated by removing the stone and the affected person usually has a good prognosis. For other causes, such as a tumor, the symptoms of jaundice can be relieved by removing the tumor. However, the further course and the associated prognosis cannot be generally predicted.

Is jaundice contagious?

Icterus or jaundice is generally not contagious, as it is merely a symptom of an underlying disorder or disease. The cause of the icterus, in turn, may carry a risk of infection. An example of this would be hepatitis B disease. This can be transmitted to another person through unprotected sexual intercourse or through a needle injury with a hepatitis B infected needle. The possible preventive measures of an icterus therefore include, for example, a vaccination against the hepatitis B virus.