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Ency. home > Disease > N > Newborn jaundice

Newborn jaundice    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Jaundice of the newborn; Physiologic jaundice of the newborn

Definition:

A condition of yellowish skin color during the newborn period. Jaundice is caused by an increased amount of bilirubin (a yellow pigment, hence the color) in the body. Bilirubin is a by-product of the normal breakdown of red blood cells. The liver is responsible for the uptake and excretion of bilirubin into the intestines.

Causes and Risks

Physiologic jaundice of the newborn, the most common cause of newborn jaundice, is present to some degree in almost all newborns. At birth, babies have relatively immature liver function. Therefore, even the normal destruction of red blood cells present in the newborn infant may lead to jaundice. This form of jaundice usually appears between the 2nd and 5th days of life and clears by 2 weeks. In general, there is no harm to the baby.

Breast-feeding jaundice is seen in 5-10% of newborns. It is similar to physiologic jaundice, but bilirubin levels tend to be slightly higher. It occurs when the baby does not take in enough breast milk and rarely requires treatment. Sometimes, however, breast feeding does need to be interrupted for a brief period of time.

Non-physiologic, prolonged, or pathogenic jaundice in the newborn may have many causes. Risk factors for a greater degree of jaundice include prematurity and different races. Other conditions may cause pathologic (disease-related) jaundice in the newborn and should be ruled out if the jaundice persists, or if other symptoms are present. These disorders include:

Ency. home > Disease > N > Newborn jaundice

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