When to worry about jaundice with malaria

Malaria can break down red blood cells, releasing bilirubin that may turn the eyes or skin yellow. The infection can also affect the liver and other organs. Dark urine, marked tiredness, headache, fever, chills, nausea, abdominal discomfort, or reduced urine output can accompany illness. Yellowing does not show how severe the infection is by itself, so clinical assessment and testing are needed even if the person has started treatment.

Contact a clinician urgently if jaundice develops during suspected or confirmed malaria, especially if fever continues, returns after improving, or medicines cannot be kept down. Take antimalarial treatment exactly as prescribed and do not substitute another product. Drink small amounts frequently if able, rest, and bring the treatment name and dose to the assessment. Avoid alcohol and unapproved medicines that may burden the liver.

Go to emergency care for confusion, seizures, difficulty waking, fainting, breathing trouble, severe weakness, repeated vomiting, inability to drink, very little urine, unusual bleeding, or rapidly worsening fever. Severe malaria can progress quickly, and a person may need hospital monitoring even when the first symptoms seemed mild.

Ask whether blood tests are needed to check malaria and liver function, whether the treatment is being absorbed, how to manage fever safely, and which symptoms mean you should return immediately.