Symptoms · Liver and bile ducts
Yellow eyes or yellow skin (jaundice)
The short answer
Yellow eyes or skin, especially with dark urine or pale stools, means that bilirubin is building up in the blood. It can come from the liver, from blocked bile ducts (often by gallstones), or from the breakdown of red blood cells. Jaundice always needs a doctor's check within a day. Go to the emergency room now if it comes with fever, severe belly pain, vomiting, confusion or bleeding. A newborn baby with yellow skin should be seen by a doctor the same day.
How patients describe it
- My eyes have turned yellow
- Yellow skin
- Dark urine like tea
- Pale, clay-coloured stools
- Itching all over
Go to the emergency room now if you have
- Fever or shaking chills with jaundice
- Severe pain in the upper right belly
- Confusion, drowsiness or strange behaviour
- Vomiting blood, black stools or easy bleeding
- Persistent vomiting, or you cannot drink
What can cause it
A stone in the bile duct
Upper right belly pain, dark urine and pale stools, sometimes with fever. This is urgent.
Next step: Blood tests, ultrasound and a scan of the bile ducts; the stone is removed.
Hepatitis or liver disease
Tiredness, nausea and dark urine. Causes include viruses, alcohol and some medicines.
Next step: Liver blood tests and review by a liver specialist.
A growth blocking the bile duct or pancreas
Painless jaundice with itching and weight loss.
Next step: Urgent scans and assessment by a specialist team.
Breakdown of red blood cells, or a mild inherited condition
Mild yellow eyes that come with illness or fasting, with normal urine and stools.
Next step: Blood tests.
What you can do now
- See a doctor the same day, and do not wait for it to clear
- Do not drink alcohol
- Do not take extra paracetamol or herbal remedies, and tell the doctor about every medicine you use
- Note the colour of your urine and stools, and any itching
Tests your doctor may order
- Blood tests: bilirubin, liver tests, a blood count and clotting
- Ultrasound of the liver and bile ducts
- An MRI scan of the bile ducts, a CT scan, or a camera test through the mouth (ERCP) as needed
When is surgery needed?
- A stone in the bile duct is usually removed by a camera test through the mouth (ERCP). The gallbladder is removed later to stop more stones.
- A blockage caused by a growth is assessed by a specialist team, and may need an operation.
- Liver causes are treated by a liver specialist.
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Questions people ask
Is jaundice always serious?
It always needs to be checked. Some causes are mild, and others, such as a blocked bile duct, are urgent.
Can gallstones cause jaundice?
Yes. A gallstone that moves into the bile duct can block the flow of bile and cause jaundice.
Is jaundice contagious?
It depends on the cause. Some viral hepatitis infections can spread, and your doctor will tell you.
This page gives general information and does not replace the advice of your treating team. In an emergency, go to the nearest emergency room.