Certified Professional Food Safety (CP-FS) Practice Exam

Which condition is characterized by yellowing of the skin, palms, and whites of the eyes?

1. Fever

2. Jaundice

3. Nausea

4. Diarrhea

The correct answer is: Jaundice

The condition characterized by yellowing of the skin, palms, and whites of the eyes is jaundice. This phenomenon occurs when there is an excess of bilirubin in the bloodstream, a substance produced during the breakdown of red blood cells. Under normal circumstances, the liver processes bilirubin, but if there is liver dysfunction, obstruction of bile flow, or excessive breakdown of red blood cells, bilirubin accumulates and leads to the yellowish discoloration. Fever, nausea, and diarrhea may present with various other health conditions; however, they do not directly cause the distinctive yellowing associated with jaundice. Fever is typically a sign of infection or inflammation, nausea signals an upset stomach or other gastrointestinal issues, and diarrhea involves increased frequency of bowel movements, none of which explain the specific symptom of yellowing associated with jaundice. Therefore, jaundice specifically denotes a serious underlying issue often related to liver health or hemolysis that warrants careful medical evaluation.