A person with jaundice has yellow skin or eyes, caused by an abnormally elevated bilirubin level in the body.

Bilirubin is produced from the breakdown of hemoglobin, which is the molecule that carries oxygen inside red blood cells. Usually, the liver processes the bilirubin and it is removed from the body in the stool.

Jaundice is caused by increased breakdown of red blood cells, poor processing of bilirubin by the liver, or blockage of the flow of bilirubin into the intestine.