Jaundice has 4 types:
- Pre-hepatic jaundice: Occurs when excessive breakdown of red blood cells produces more bilirubin than the liver can process.
- Hepatic jaundice: Happens when liver cells are damaged or unable to process bilirubin properly, such as with hepatitis or liver disease.
- Post-hepatic jaundice: Also called obstructive jaundice, it occurs when bile flow is blocked, often due to gallstones or problems affecting the bile ducts.
- Neonatal jaundice: Common in newborns because their immature livers may temporarily struggle to process bilirubin efficiently.