Anna Ratajek, age 13, of Dodge City, Kans., for her question:

WHAT CAUSES JAUNDICE?

If a person's skin and the white of his eyes turn yellow, he is said to have jaundice or to be jaundiced. Jaundice is not a disease but a symptom of other disorders. Most often it is associated with disorders of the liver or gallbladder.

Excess production of bile, or any damage to the liver or bile ducts which affects the normal excretion of bile pigments, may result in a jaundiced appearance.

Jaundice may be the most noticeable symptom in hepatitis, a virus infection of the liver. Mononucleosis, another virus infection which primarily occurs in young people, may affect the liver and cause a jaundiced appearance.

Destruction of red blood cells may cause an excess of yellow pigments in the blood called bilirubin. This too may result in a jaundiced appearance.

Since jaundice is a symptom of other disorders, treatment is directed toward the underlying cause. If jaundice occurs, it is important that a doctor be consulted promptly for diagnosis and treatment.