Jaundice means which of the following?

• A. Jaundice is a type of liver disease
• B. Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by an accumulation of bile pigment (bilirubin) in the blood
• C. Greenish skin discoloration
• D. Blue sclera

Answer: (B)

Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a pigment produced when red blood cells are broken down; normally the liver processes it and it’s eliminated in bile. If the liver isn’t processing bilirubin properly or bile flow is blocked, bilirubin accumulates and causes yellow discoloration. This makes jaundice a sign or symptom rather than a disease itself, though it can indicate liver problems, hemolysis, or bile duct obstruction.

The other descriptions don’t fit jaundice: one statement calls jaundice a type of liver disease, which it is not—the discoloration is a symptom rather than the disease itself. Greenish skin discoloration and blue sclera are not characteristic of jaundice.