Gilbert's Disease is a disorder which is characterized by jaundice like symptoms, and is principally caused by elevated levels of bilirubin in one;s blood system.It is a non fatal malady that presents itself from time to time, usually as a byproduct of another, far more serious condition.

Gilbert's Disease doesn't typically cause any tell tale symptoms. However, if Gilbert's Disease does cause the level of bilirubin in your blood to rise far enough, you may experience some of the following symptoms and signs:

There may be a sickly, yellowish tinge that suddenly comes over your skin, as well as the whites of your eyes. This is typically known as jaundice. You may also experience some abdominal pain, which may range from quick, stabbing, pains to prolonged discomfort (sometimes involving nausea).

You may experience considerable fatigue, i.e., a feeling of sluggishness and low, flagging energy. Your sleeping time may increase considerably and, even when awake, you may feel groggy and listless.

You may also experience feelings of weakness. You may feel unable to perform common household tasks, or feel "not up" to tasks performed in the work place. Nausea and spells of dizziness may accompany every such attempt.

If you begin to experience any of these signs and symptoms, to the point of suspecting some disorder, make an appointment with your health care provider. Keep in mind that, although symptoms such as abdominal pain, fatigue, and jaundice have many possible causes, Gilbert's Disease is certainly high on the list as a possible cause of all of them.

Because Gilbert's Disease typically does not manifest any of these symptoms until such time as an elevated bilirubin level occurs, you can have this disorder for quite some time, even years, without being aware of it. Gilbert's usually only manifests when some other disease or disorder is present, so it is very hard to detect on its own, as it does not typically present evidence of itself.

Although Gilbert's Disease can cause irritating jaundice and abdominal pains, there is normally no prolonged, intensive course of treatment for this disorder, as its effects are not judged sufficiently serious to warrant such attention. Treatment is usually administered in the form of anti-jaundice medication, which is normally enough to dispel the worrying effects of the disease.

Jaundice may reappear periodically throughout one's life, especially when one is suffering from other illnesses, such as pneumonia or prolonged colds. Gilbert's Disease does not, by itself, cause health issues, but it can contribute to misreadings of diagnostic results, especially when jaundice is involved. It is seen more as a complicating agent than a principal cause of disease.

If one suspects the presence of Gilbert's Disease, one should consult one's health care provider immediately. He or she can then arrange for tests which will prove the existence of this condition, and a course of jaundice control treatments can then be undertaken. It is usually not a fatal malady by itself, but only becomes somewhat worrying when detected in the presence of other, far more serious disorders.