Does malaria cause jaundice?

Jaundice may appear with fever, chills, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal discomfort, headache, or marked tiredness. It can signal more significant illness, but malaria is not the only explanation; liver disease, gallbladder problems, blood disorders, and other infections can also cause yellowing.

Tell a clinician about recent travel or residence in a malaria area, mosquito exposure, medicines, alcohol use, and when the colour change began. Assessment may include examination, blood tests, and checks of liver function.

Arrange urgent medical assessment for new jaundice, especially with fever or recent travel to a malaria area. Drink fluids if you can and bring a list of medicines and supplements. Avoid taking unapproved remedies or extra doses of medicines until a clinician checks the cause.

Go to emergency care for confusion, extreme sleepiness, fainting, severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, breathing difficulty, bleeding, or inability to drink. Fever with jaundice after travel needs prompt attention even when other symptoms seem limited.

Ask whether malaria testing and liver tests are needed, what may be causing the jaundice, whether any medicine should be paused, and which warning signs require immediate hospital care.