Jaundice is a symptom of other underlying conditions, rather than a disease in itself, and as such it is not contagious. Jaundice develops when bilirubin levels in the blood rise, resulting in yellowing of the skin, whites of the eyes, and bodily fluids. Bilirubin is formed after the red blood cells are broken down and is then excreted from the body in the bile. The liver processes the bilirubin before it is excreted and as such diseases of the liver result in jaundice. Conditions of the blood and spleen may also sometimes cause jaundice. The important thing to note here is that the condition that causes jaundice may however be contagious. Jaundice can be a symptom of hepatitis and hepatitis can be contagious.
Hepatitis can spread from one individual to another through what is referred to as the fecal oral route. In other words food or water that has been contaminated with feces can become a source of infection. If you eat food that has been handled by someone with the hepatitis virus too, you could be at risk of developing the condition yourself. Shellfish obtained from polluted water can also bring with it the risk of hepatitis infection. Close contact with an individual infected by the hepatitis virus puts you at a high risk of being infected. Even if the person does not display any symptoms yet, the risk is still present. Hepatitis is contagious even before the symptoms start appearing.
Vaccines
You and your friend first need to know what the cause of the jaundice is. After this you can take the necessary precautions. If there is hepatitis involved, then receiving the hepatitis vaccine is the best way to obtain protection from contracting the virus. You can seek advice from your doctor about this vaccine. If your friend is indeed affected by the hepatitis virus, the other ways of protecting yourself would be to avoid sharing your friend’s utensils and towels. You can also tell your friend to make sure that she washes her hands thoroughly after using the bathroom. Using disposable tissues or towels to dry the hands is also hygienic. Also, it is better that you do not eat food that has been cooked or handled by her. Other general precautionary measures would be to drink only from bottled water. Also try not to add ice cubes to any beverage. Water must be boiled for about ten minutes before it can be consumed. Also, wash and peel all fruits and vegetables yourself. Avoid uncooked or undercooked foods, especially fish and meat.