When to worry about jaundice with liver cirrhosis

Jaundice makes the skin or whites of the eyes look yellow because bilirubin is building up. With cirrhosis, damaged liver cells may process bilirubin less effectively. A deeper colour, dark urine, pale stools, increasing abdominal swelling, ankle swelling, or unusual sleepiness can indicate that the condition is changing. It can also occur with infection, a blocked bile duct, bleeding, dehydration, or a medicine-related problem, so do not assume the cause from colour alone.

Contact your liver team or a doctor promptly if jaundice is new, clearly darker, or accompanied by worsening swelling, vomiting, fever, or reduced appetite. Keep taking prescribed medicines unless a clinician tells you otherwise, avoid alcohol, and do not start herbal products or pain medicines without checking first. Note when the colour changed, your urine and stool changes, and any recent medicines or illness.

Go to an emergency department now for confusion, difficulty staying awake, fainting, vomiting blood, black stools, severe abdominal pain, fever with shaking chills, breathing difficulty, or repeated vomiting. These symptoms can accompany serious complications of cirrhosis and should not wait for a routine appointment.

Ask what may have triggered the change, whether you need blood tests or imaging, which medicines and fluids are safe, and which signs should prompt an immediate return to hospital.