Does fatty liver disease cause jaundice?

Fatty liver disease means excess fat has accumulated in liver cells. Early disease may cause no noticeable symptoms. If inflammation and scarring interfere with the liver's ability to process bilirubin, the skin or whites of the eyes can turn yellow. Dark urine, pale stools, itching, tiredness, or swelling may occur with more advanced liver problems. Jaundice has many other causes, including gallstone blockage, viral hepatitis, medicine reactions, and blood disorders, so it needs assessment rather than a self-diagnosis.

Contact a clinician promptly if you notice yellow skin or eyes, especially with dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, or marked tiredness. Expect questions about alcohol, medicines, supplements, weight, metabolic health, and previous liver problems. Blood tests and imaging may help identify the cause. Avoid alcohol and unnecessary supplements until you have advice, and do not stop essential medicine without guidance. See the [Jaundice](/symptoms/jaundice/) guide for related information.

Seek emergency help for jaundice with confusion, unusual sleepiness, severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding, fainting, fever with shaking chills, or rapidly worsening swelling. New jaundice in a newborn also needs urgent medical advice. These features may indicate acute liver or bile-flow problems.

Ask whether your symptoms fit fatty liver disease or another cause, which liver and blood tests are needed, and whether imaging should check the bile ducts. Ask how medicines, alcohol, weight, diabetes, and cholesterol affect your liver plan.