Bring your mirror into a well-lit room with plenty of natural light. Always use natural lighting when possible, as light bulbs and shades may tint the lighting. Gently apply pressure to your forehead or nose. Notice the color of your skin while releasing the pressure. If there is a tinge of yellowness to your skin as the pressure is released, you may have jaundice. To test your baby’s skin for jaundice, press gently on baby’s forehead or nose for a second, then release. Healthy skin will momentarily look lighter before returning to normal, whereas jaundiced skin will appear slightly yellowed. [2] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source You can also look inside your baby’s mouth at his gums, on the soles of his feet, and on the palms of his hands to check for jaundice. [3] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source A baby’s jaundice progresses down the body from head to toe. [4] X Research source If you have darker skin or if you are uncertain if you are seeing a yellowish tinge, look at the whites of your eyes. If they have a yellowish tint, you may have jaundice.

Itchiness may be related to underlying bile duct obstruction or cirrhosis of the liver. [6] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source The bile ducts carry bile away from the liver to the gallbladder and may get blocked by gallstones. [7] X Research source Cirrhosis of the liver is a condition in which the liver is damaged to the point that normal healthy liver tissue is replaced with non-functioning scar tissue and is caused by hepatitis, alcoholism, and other liver disorders. [8] X Research source

Spider angiomas are not a direct result of the jaundice itself but often occur simultaneously. These spider vessels blanch when you press on them and most frequently occur on the upper body including the trunk, arms, hands, neck, and face. [10] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source

This symptom is also related to a damaged liver not being able to make the substances that help with blood clotting.

Most bilirubin is normally excreted in your stool. Your stool may even be grey if you have severe obstruction. [14] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source your stool may have blood in it or be black if you are having bleeding complications from liver disease.

You may also notice that you end up peeing less each time you go to the bathroom. Be sure to track how frequently you go, whether you pee a lot or a little each time, and what color your urine is so you can tell your doctor. Urine changes may occur before skin colouration changes so remember to tell your doctor when you first started noticing your urine getting darker. Newborn baby urine should be clear. If your baby has jaundice, you can expect his urine to be darker yellow. [16] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source

A swollen abdomen is usually a later sign of an illness that also causes jaundice, and is not caused by the jaundice itself. [18] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source You may also experience abdominal pain because the underlying illness could cause your liver to become infected or inflamed.

The liver helps in the excretion of bilirubin in urine and, when its function is interfered with, or if there is excess pressure in the circulation associated with the liver, fluid accumulates in different parts of the body, causing swelling.

The reason for the fever may be due to an underlying liver infection (such as hepatitis) or bile duct obstruction. [21] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source

If you are discharged from hospital with baby less than 72 hours after birth, you may want to book a follow-up appointment to see your doctor in the next two days to check for infant jaundice. Severe infant jaundice left untreated can cause permanent brain damage.

Babies may also have a skin test called a transcutaneous bilirubin test. A special probe is placed up against baby’s skin and measures the reflection of a special light shining through or being absorbed. This allows the doctor to calculate the amount of bilirubin present.

Check the gums, whites of the eyes, base of the ears, nostrils, abdomen, and genitals, as the jaundice may be more noticeable in these areas. [23] X Research source If you suspect your pet has jaundice, take him to a vet for immediate examination. If you pet has jaundice, he has an underlying illness, such as hepatitis or other liver problems, that will require veterinary treatment or it could become fatal.

Your pet may urinate more than usual.