GuidelinesEML (Adult Hospital STG)
Jaundice in Pregnancy
Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa, Hospital Level, Adults, Updated for the 2023 Edition
O26.6
DESCRIPTION
The most common causes of jaundice in pregnancy are not pregnancy-specific. They include viral hepatitis, and adverse drug reactions.
Pregnancy-specific causes include:
- intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy,
- acute fatty liver of pregnancy (acute yellow atrophy of the liver),
- severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia, and
- hyperemesis gravidarum.
REFERRAL
All, as certain causes of jaundice in pregnancy have a high mortality.
Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa, Adult Hospital Level, 2025-9 Review_Version 2.0_26 March 2026
Chapter 6 Obstetrics_6.9 Jaundice in Pregnancy