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Warning-sign checks

Jaundice: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services for jaundice with confusion, unusual difficulty staying awake, fainting, vomiting blood, black stools, or severe abdominal pain.

    These symptoms can occur with serious liver problems, bleeding, or an infected bile-duct blockage.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Seek same-day medical advice for any new yellowing of your skin or eye whites.

    This remains important if the yellowing is mild, painless, or comes and goes.

    Seek urgent same-day assessment if jaundice occurs with:

    • Fever, chills, or worsening upper abdominal pain
    • Repeated vomiting or difficulty keeping fluids down
    • Very dark urine or pale stools
    • New easy bruising or bleeding
    • Rapidly worsening yellowing

    A newborn needs prompt medical assessment if jaundice appears during the first 24 hours after birth.

    Urgent assessment is also needed if a jaundiced baby is hard to wake, feeds poorly, has a fever, develops a high-pitched cry, or seems floppy or unusually stiff.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    For routine follow-up, book an appointment if previously assessed jaundice does not clear as expected, returns, or is joined by ongoing itching, appetite loss, or weight loss.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Jaundice. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.