 |  |  |  | Medical Health Encyclopedia |  |
Newborn jaundice
Definition:
Newborn jaundice is caused by high levels of bilirubin in the blood, which gives an infant's skin and eyeballs a yellowish tinge. Alternative Names: Jaundice of the newborn
Text Continues Below

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Bilirubin is a byproduct of the normal breakdown of red blood cells. The liver processes bilirubin so that it can be excreted by the body as waste. At birth, a baby's liver is still developing its ability to process bilirubin. Therefore, bilrubin levels are a little high at birth and jaundice is present to some degree in almost all newborns. This form of jaundice usually appears between the 2nd and 5th days of life and clears by 2 weeks. It usually causes no problems. Breastfeeding jaundice is seen in 5-10% of newborns. This may occur when breast-fed babies do not take in enough breast milk and rarely requires treatment. Sometimes, however, breastfeeding does need to be interrupted and bottle-feeding substituted for a brief period of time to clear the jaundice.
Jaundice in a newborn is rarely caused by a serious illness. However, possible disorders that can cause jaundice in a baby include:
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. | |
|