Your map to everything on this site about jaundice in adults: symptoms, causes, tests and treatments.
By Dr. Appou Tamijmarane | MBBS, MS (Gen Surg), FRCS (Edinburgh), FRCS (Glasgow), FRCS (Gen Surg), CCT
Consultant General Surgeon specialising in HPB, Upper GI, and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery
Fakeeh University Hospital, Dubai Silicon Oasis | DHA License No: 50530660-001
Published: November 2026 | Last reviewed: November 2026 | Reading time: 3 minutes
Jaundice in adults is rarely a condition in itself. It is a warning sign of a problem in the liver, bile ducts, pancreas or blood, and the cause needs to be found promptly. Dr. Appou Tamijmarane assesses jaundice caused by gallstones, bile duct and pancreatic conditions at Fakeeh University Hospital, Dubai Silicon Oasis.
Go to an emergency department the same day if you have yellow eyes or skin together with:
fever, chills or shivering; confusion or unusual drowsiness; severe abdominal pain; repeated vomiting; or vomiting blood, black stools, or unusual bleeding or bruising. In an emergency in Dubai, call 998.
If you have noticed yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, pale stools or itching, start with the main guide.
Jaundice Symptoms in Adults: Early Signs, Causes and When to See a Specialist
The early signs, when jaundice is an emergency, the main causes, painful versus painless jaundice, the tests that find the cause, and which specialist to see.
Gallstone-related jaundice
Bile duct stones
A blocked or narrowed bile duct
Obstructive jaundice
Yellowing without pain
Painless jaundice
Jaundice with fever and pain
Infected bile duct (cholangitis)
Jaundice with pancreatitis
Pancreatitis-related jaundice
A cyst or widening of the bile duct
Choledochal cysts
A tumour of the bile duct
Cholangiocarcinoma
Jaundice that starts in the liver or blood, such as hepatitis, is usually treated by a hepatologist or haematologist. See which specialist treats which cause.
Blood tests and an ultrasound usually come first; read how the cause of jaundice is found. Treatment then depends on the cause:
Clearing a blocked bile duct with no surgical cuts
ERCP
Removing bile duct stones during gallbladder surgery
Laparoscopic bile duct exploration
Stopping gallstones coming back
Gallbladder removal
A new route for bile to drain
Biliary bypass (hepaticojejunostomy)
Surgery for a tumour of the pancreas or bile duct
Whipple procedure
Dr. Appou sees patients at Fakeeh University Hospital, Dubai Silicon Oasis, face to face or online, in English or Tamil. To book, use the Okadoc booking system or call the Fakeeh University Hospital booking line on +971 4 414 4444. To speak with him first, message him on WhatsApp.
Medical Disclaimer
This page is for general education and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have jaundice with any of the warning signs above, seek emergency care. Dr. Appou Tamijmarane is licensed by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA License No: 50530660-001) and practises as a Consultant General Surgeon at Fakeeh University Hospital, Dubai Silicon Oasis, UAE.