Stages of Jaundice

Jaundice is not a disease with set stages, but it often follows a course that depends on the cause.

Early stage

Mild tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea or fever may appear first, especially with viral hepatitis. Urine may turn dark before the eyes turn yellow.

Jaundice stage

Yellow colour of eyes and skin appears and may deepen over days. In viral hepatitis it often lasts 2 to 6 weeks. With a blocked bile duct it keeps rising until the block is removed.

Recovery stage

When the cause settles, the appetite returns, urine clears, stools regain their colour and the yellow fades slowly, sometimes taking weeks.

Complicated or progressive course

• Persistent or deepening jaundice with bleeding, confusion, swelling of the abdomen or severe weakness may signal acute liver failure or advanced liver disease.
• Infection of the bile duct causes fever and pain with jaundice and is an emergency.

Newborn course

Physiological jaundice peaks around day 3 to 5 and fades by about 2 weeks. Deepening colour, jaundice beyond 2 weeks, or jaundice with poor feeding needs a doctor.

Ayurvedic view

Ayurveda describes kamala progressing from mild Pitta-related colouring to a severe stage with weakness and swelling if neglected. This is traditional and not a medical staging.

Key point

Follow-up blood tests show whether jaundice is clearing. Jaundice that does not improve needs further investigation.

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.