Jaundice symptoms: What are the early signs of jaundice?

Medically reviewed by Stephanie Melby, Pharm.D.
Licensed Pharmacist
Updated Jun 10, 2024  •  Published Jun 20, 2023
Datos Verificados
In this article:

Overview: What does jaundice look like?

The word jaundice means “yellow color,” which pretty much describes what jaundice looks like. Jaundice is not a diagnosis but a symptom of excess bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinemia). Bilirubin is a brown-yellow substance that is a by-product of the body’s breakdown of aged or damaged red blood cells. The body always breaks down blood cells, so bilirubin is always in the bloodstream. The body normally processes bilirubin in the liver and then eliminates it through the intestines. Sometimes, things don’t go right. If too many blood cells die off, then bilirubin levels go up in the bloodstream. If the liver is diseased and doesn’t process bilirubin very well, then bilirubin levels go up in the bloodstream. Finally, if the bilirubin is blocked on the way out, then bilirubin builds in the bloodstream. So there are many ways things can go wrong and bring on jaundice.

Key takeaways:

  • Jaundice is a common health condition that can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, race, or ethnicity. However, it is the most common medical condition in newborns in the first two weeks of life.

  • Early signs of jaundice include yellowing of the skin, mucus membranes, and the whites of the eyes.

  • Serious symptoms of jaundice, such as additional symptoms of a serious medical condition, may include newborn jaundice requiring immediate medical attention.

  • Some causes of jaundice in newborns include immature liver function, death of red blood cells, or breastfeeding. In children and adults, jaundice can be caused by excessive red blood cell death (hemolytic anemia), liver disease, viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C), chronic alcohol use, autoimmune disorders, genetic conditions such as Gilbert’s syndrome, pregnancy, prescription drugs, toxic chemicals, acetaminophen overdose, swollen pancreas, pancreatic cancer, or gallstones. 

  • You may be at risk for developing jaundice symptoms if you drink alcohol in excess, have a liver infection, are exposed to toxic chemicals, or take certain prescription drugs. 

  • Newborns are at a higher risk for developing jaundice if they are premature, have significant bruising during birth, have a mother with O type or Rh negative blood, or are of East Asian or Mediterranean descent.

  • Jaundice requires a medical diagnosis.

  • Treatment of jaundice may include treatment of the underlying condition or, in newborns, phototherapy or blood transfusion in severe cases. Untreated severe hyperbilirubinemia in a newborn could result in complications like neurological dysfunction or permanent brain damage.

  • Save on prescriptions for jaundice with a SingleCare prescription discount card.

What are the early signs of jaundice?

The earliest and sometimes the only sign of jaundice is often a yellowing of the whites of the eyes. When bilirubin levels get high enough, any part of the skin or mucus membranes, including the face, chest, arms, and legs, can turn yellow. 

Other jaundice symptoms

Jaundice itself is a symptom of hyperbilirubinemia and is characterized by:

  • A yellowish tint to the skin

  • Yellowing of the mucus membranes (such as the gums or inner cheeks)

  • Yellowing of the whites of the eyes

  • Brown-colored or dark urine

People with long-term jaundice may have green-colored skin and eyes.

Other symptoms of hyperbilirubinemia will be due to the underlying medical condition causing jaundice. Common symptoms accompanying jaundice include:

  • Abdominal pain

  • Itching

  • Weight loss

  • Loss of appetite

  • Fatigue

  • Fever

  • Chills

  • Dark-colored urine

  • Clay-colored stools

  • Joint pain

  • Muscle pain

  • Rash

  • Swollen lymph nodes

Newborns may have other symptoms related to central nervous system damage caused by severely high bilirubin levels:

  • Feeding problems

  • Sleeping problems

  • Waking problems

  • Limpness

  • Fussiness

  • Arching

  • Fever

  • High-pitched crying

These are signs that emergency medical care is needed.

Jaundice vs. scleral icterus symptoms

Scleral icterus is “jaundice of the whites of the eyes.” Simply put, it’s when the white part of the eyes (the sclera) turns yellow. The whites of the eyes may become the first part of the body to turn yellow when bilirubin starts to build up in the body.

Types of jaundice: How can I tell which one I have?

The buildup of bilirubin causes jaundice. The body naturally produces bilirubin when it breaks down aged or damaged red blood cells. Called unconjugated bilirubin, it floats around in the bloodstream until the liver processes it into a slightly different version called conjugated bilirubin. This reprocessed version of bilirubin is water-soluble, so that it can be eliminated from the body more easily. Liver-processed bilirubin can then be stored in the gallbladder or travel into the intestines. From there, it leaves the body during bowel movements or gets consumed by bacteria in the gut. 

Jaundice can happen in three major ways:

  • Excessive red blood cell metabolism can occur and the liver can’t keep up. As a result, unconjugated bilirubin builds up in the blood. This is often the case with newborn babies in their first week.

  • Jaundice can happen when the liver itself is diseased and not working well. For example, this may happen in those with alcoholic liver disease or hepatitis.

  • Problems with the pancreas or gallbladder can cause bilirubin to back up and not reach the intestines, so conjugated bilirubin builds up in the blood. ​​For example, this may happen in those with gallstones or biliary tract tumors. 

When to see a doctor for jaundice symptoms

See a doctor if jaundice occurs. It may be due to a serious medical condition, so a healthcare professional needs to figure that out. If there are other symptoms, such as fever or abdominal pain, the underlying cause may be serious. In those cases, get emergency medical care. Likewise, if a newborn shows signs of jaundice, go to an emergency room. It could evolve into severe jaundice that can cause devastating complications if not treated.

Jaundice is not a diagnosis but a symptom. It is identified at sight, but what is seen can be misleading. The definitive diagnosis is a blood test that measures bilirubin in the bloodstream. Hyperbilirubinemia is typically diagnosed when the amount of bilirubin in the blood is greater than 2.5 to 3 mg per deciliter, and usually jaundice is noticed once the level rises above 3 mg per deciliter. 

A thorough history and physical examination will be performed to identify the cause of excess bilirubin. Be prepared to answer questions like:

  • When did you notice the yellowing of the skin or eyes?

  • Are there other symptoms?

  • What medications are you taking?

  • What medical conditions do you have?

  • Have any of your relatives had jaundice or blood problems?

  • Have you traveled recently?

  • Do you drink alcohol or take drugs?

  • Have you been exposed to toxic chemicals?

If the patient is an infant, questions might also include:

  • Did anything notable happen at birth?

  • What is the mother’s blood type?

A thorough physical examination will be performed to find signs of the cause. There are many potential causes of jaundice, including blood problems, liver problems, and biliary duct blockage. Several tests may be necessary to find the cause, including: 

  • A urine test to measure bilirubin in the urine

  • Liver function tests

  • Blood tests to measure complete blood count (CBC), evidence of an infection, or autoimmune antibodies

  • CT, MRI, or ultrasound scans

RELATED: Understanding your liver panel tests 

Complications of jaundice

High bilirubin levels aren’t good, but they’re not usually a threat unless they get very high, particularly in babies. In newborns and infants, very high levels of bilirubin can lead to serious and even lifelong complications, including:

  • Bilirubin-induced neurological dysfunction (BIND)

  • Acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE)

  • Chronic bilirubin encephalopathy (kernicterus) is a lifelong condition characterized by seizures, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, fixed upward gaze, and cognitive disability

How to treat jaundice symptoms

Treatment of jaundice will focus on the underlying condition and its other symptoms. Jaundice will improve if and when the underlying condition improves. 

Newborn jaundice is usually divided into “physiological jaundice,” a mild case that resolves on its own by two to three weeks, and “pathological jaundice,” a more severe case with high levels of bilirubin and the potential for neurological consequences. 

Most newborn babies with mild cases will be sent home. The doctor may give instructions about breastfeeding or exposing the child to light. High bilirubin levels in a newborn will be treated because of the risk of complications. The standard treatment for reducing bilirubin levels is phototherapy. The infant is placed under blue-green light under lamps. The blue-green light induces the transformation of bilirubin near the skin into a different and less toxic chemical. This treatment usually lasts one or two days. In severe cases, an exchange transfusion may be required to prevent complications. 

Signs jaundice is getting better

Jaundice in adults is not usually treated. Instead, the underlying condition is treated. If it improves, then jaundice will go away. If the cause is simple, like medication side effects, simply removing the cause will rapidly improve jaundice. Liver infections or cancer treatment may take longer to resolve. Chronic conditions such as liver cirrhosis are not reversible, so jaundice may persist. 

Mild newborn jaundice typically goes away on its own within two to three weeks. With treatment, jaundice typically improves with phototherapy in a few days, but minor side effects may occur such as loose stools, temperature problems, or dehydration.

Most importantly, get medical help if you start turning yellow

Jaundice is an important symptom that can be a sign of several different medical conditions, some benign and some very serious. Do not hesitate to see a healthcare provider if your eyes or skin turn yellow. Only a healthcare professional can accurately identify the cause of jaundice and start the most appropriate treatment.

FAQs about jaundice symptoms

What are neonatal jaundice symptoms?

The symptoms of high bilirubin levels in newborns are the same as in adults: yellowing of the skin, eyes, and mucus membranes. Remember that newborns at risk of hyperbilirubinemia, such as premature babies, are typically screened for bilirubin levels in the days after birth.

What part of the body shows jaundice first?

Jaundice can show up anywhere on the body. However, yellowing of the white part of the eyes is typically the first sign of elevated bilirubin levels. In some cases of jaundice, yellowing of the eyes may be the only symptom. Newborns typically first show jaundice on their faces.

What stage of liver disease is jaundice?

Cirrhosis of the liver and liver failure are symptoms of liver disease that usually aren’t experienced until later stages. This includes jaundice. Early-stage liver disease is typically discovered with routine blood tests.

What’s next? Additional resources for people with jaundice symptoms

Test and diagnostics

Treatments

Scientific studies and clinical trials

Lea este artículo en español aquí.

Medically reviewed by Stephanie Melby, Pharm.D.
Licensed Pharmacist

Stephanie Melby, B.S., Pharm.D., received a bachelor of science in nutrition from the University of Minnesota and a doctorate of pharmacy from the University of New England. She has seven years of experience in retail pharmacy and is certified in Medication Therapy Management (MTM). Dr. Melby resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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