What is the common cause of jaundice?

Jaundice is characterized by a yellowing of the skin and the sclera of the eyes, which occurs due to an accumulation of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is produced during the normal breakdown of red blood cells. In healthy individuals, the liver efficiently processes bilirubin and excretes it in bile, which is eliminated from the body.

When there is a disruption in this process—either due to increased production of bilirubin (as seen in hemolysis), impaired processing by the liver (due to liver diseases like hepatitis or cirrhosis), or problems with bile excretion (like bile duct obstruction)—bilirubin levels rise in the bloodstream, leading to jaundice. Therefore, the most direct and common underlying factor of jaundice is indeed this accumulation of bilirubin.

While obstruction of the bile duct does cause jaundice by preventing bilirubin from being excreted, it is just one specific cause and not the general mechanism. A deficiency of vitamin C does not relate to jaundice, as it primarily affects collagen synthesis and does not influence bilirubin metabolism. Lastly, a high level of hemoglobin is not directly related to jaundice; rather, it is the breakdown products of hem