Jaundice Symptoms

Jaundice is a sign of an underlying disease process. .

Common signs and symptoms seen in individuals with jaundice include:

• yellow discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes, and the whites of the eyes,
  
  
• light-colored stools,
  
  
• dark-colored urine, and
  
  
• itching of the skin.

The underlying disease process may result in additional signs and symptoms. These may include:

• nausea and vomiting,
  
  
• abdominal pain,
  
  
• fever,
  
  
• weakness,
  
  
• loss of appetite,
  
  
• headache,
  
  
• confusion,
  
  
• swelling of the legs and abdomen, and
  
  
• newborn jaundice.

In newborns, as the bilirubin level rises, jaundice will typically progress from the head to the trunk, and then to the hands and feet. Additional signs and symptoms that may be seen in the newborn include:

• poor feeding,
  
  
• lethargy,
  
  
• changes in muscle tone,
  
  
• high-pitched crying, and
  
  
• seizures.