Prevention of Jaundice

Many causes of jaundice can be prevented.

Prevent hepatitis

• Get the hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines
• Drink safe, boiled or filtered water
• Eat freshly cooked food and avoid raw street food in areas with poor hygiene
• Wash hands with soap after the toilet and before eating
• Do not share needles, razors or toothbrushes
• Use safe practices for tattoos, piercing and injections
• Practise safe sex

Protect the liver

• Avoid or limit alcohol
• Keep a healthy weight and stay active to lower fatty liver risk
• Take medicines only as prescribed and never exceed the paracetamol dose
• Avoid unregulated herbal products and supplements
• Control diabetes and cholesterol

Prevent gallstones

Maintain a healthy weight, avoid crash dieting and eat a balanced diet with fibre.

Prevent blood-related causes

• Check for G6PD deficiency before using medicines known to trigger haemolysis, if you are at risk
• Get genetic counselling for inherited blood disorders
• Use malaria prevention in high-risk areas

Prevent newborn jaundice complications

• Feed the baby often in the first days
• Get the baby checked before leaving the hospital and again at follow-up
• Know the mother's blood group
• Seek help early if the baby looks yellow

Ayurvedic lifestyle advice

Ayurveda recommends regular meals, avoiding alcohol and excessive spicy and sour food. This is traditional and not proven to prevent jaundice.

Key point

Vaccination, clean food and water, safe medicine use and limited alcohol prevent most jaundice.

Before your appointment

Note when the yellow colour began and the colour of your urine and stools. List all medicines, herbs, supplements and alcohol use. Mention fever, itching, abdominal pain, weight loss, recent travel, injections, transfusions, tattoos and contact with others with jaundice. For a baby, note birth date, feeding pattern, wet nappies and the mother's blood group. Ask about tests, the likely cause and which signs need urgent care. Call 112 for confusion, bleeding or severe pain with fever.