Is jaundice contagious?

Jaundice itself is not a disease, but a symptom, mainly manifested as yellowing of the skin, sclera, whites of the eyes and other tissues, usually caused by abnormal bilirubin metabolism; whether it is contagious depends on the specific disease causing the jaundice. Infectious jaundice is often caused by viral hepatitis, while non-infectious jaundice is usually related to bile duct obstruction, hemolytic diseases, etc. Targeted treatment should be taken according to the cause.

1 Causes of jaundice

The main cause of jaundice is the increase in bilirubin levels in the blood. The conditions that cause abnormal increase in bilirubin can be roughly divided into the following categories:

Genetic factors: Gilbert syndrome is a hereditary jaundice that usually presents as mild, intermittent jaundice, with no obvious health risks and is not contagious.

Infectious diseases: Viral hepatitis such as hepatitis A or B is a common infectious cause. These viruses can be transmitted through fecal-oral, blood, or mother-to-child transmission, causing damage to the liver and abnormal bilirubin metabolism.

Biliary tract disease: Common bile duct stones or cancer may cause bile duct obstruction, bilirubin cannot be discharged smoothly, and then cause jaundice. This type of cause is not contagious.

Hemolytic diseases: Such as hemolytic anemia, which accelerates the breakdown of red blood cells and leads to excessive bilirubin production. Such conditions are not related to infection.

Drug poisoning or alcoholic liver disease: Certain drugs or long-term alcohol abuse can poison the liver, affect bilirubin metabolism, and may also cause jaundice.

2. Prevention and treatment of infectious jaundice

Infectious jaundice is mainly caused by viral hepatitis. Prevention and treatment require attention:

Preventive measures: Get vaccinated against hepatitis such as hepatitis A and hepatitis B; maintain good personal hygiene and avoid sharing needles, razors and other items with others; pay attention to food hygiene and avoid eating unclean food.

Drug treatment: If you are diagnosed with viral hepatitis, you should take antiviral drugs as prescribed by your doctor. For example, hepatitis B patients are usually treated with drugs such as lamivudine and tenofovir.

Lifestyle adjustments: avoid drinking alcohol to reduce the burden on the liver; eat a balanced diet, supplement with vitamins and high-protein foods; insist on regular check-ups.

3 Treatments for non-infectious jaundice

Treatment of noninfectious jaundice focuses on eliminating the cause:

Biliary obstruction: If it is caused by bile duct stones, it can be treated with surgery or endoscopic bile duct stone removal; patients with bile duct cancer may need surgical resection and chemotherapy.

Hemolytic disease: Hemolytic jaundice may be relieved by blood transfusion, correction of anemia, or control of the underlying disorder.

Drug-induced liver injury: Suspend the use of drugs that cause damage, and choose liver-protecting drugs such as glucuronolactone or compound glycyrrhizin under the guidance of a doctor.

Jaundice is just a symptom, and its infectiousness depends on the specific cause. When jaundice occurs, you should see a doctor as soon as possible to identify the cause to avoid delaying treatment, especially cases that may be contagious need to be isolated and treated in time.