Jaundice refers to a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. It is caused by the build-up of a pigment, called bilirubin, in the blood. In most cases, jaundice goes away without treatment and does not harm the baby.
A common reason for the build-up of bilirubin is that the liver of a newborn is immature.
Jaundice occurs in about 6 out of every 10 newborns. Premature babies (those born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy) are more likely to develop jaundice than full-term babies.
Occasionally, babies develop severe jaundice. Without treatment, this can pose a risk of permanent brain damage. (Bilirubin can deposit in the brain when blood levels are very high.)
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all babies be checked for jaundice before they leave the hospital after birth. Babies should be checked again by a provider at 3 to 5 days of age. This is the time when bilirubin levels are usually highest.
When necessary, a baby can be treated with special white or blue lights (called phototherapy). The lights help change bilirubin in the baby's blood so that it can be easily disposed of in urine. This treatment usually works. A few babies may need a special type of blood transfusion called an exchange transfusion.
Call your baby's health care provider right away if:
- Your baby's skin looks yellow.
- The whites of your baby's eyes look yellow.
- Your baby is especially sleepy and hard to wake up.
Although jaundice usually goes away within a week or two, the provider will monitor the baby's condition to see if treatment is needed. A skin or blood test easily measures bilirubin levels. Sometimes the provider may have to take daily blood samples for a few days until the baby's bilirubin levels stop rising.
Babies with certain inherited conditions may be more likely to develop jaundice after birth. These conditions include:
- G6PD deficiency:
Affected persons may develop a form of anemia during illness or after exposure to certain medications or fava beans. For more information, visit the Web site of the G6PD Deficiency Association.
- Niemann-Pick disease
: This disease can affect the liver, spleen, lungs and sometimes the central nervous system. For more information, visit the Web site of the National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation.
Kernicterus
Kernicterus is a type of brain damage caused by high levels of bilirubin. It can cause cerebral palsy, hearing loss, problems with vision and teeth, and sometimes mental retardation. No baby should develop kernicterus because there are treatments that can lower bilirubin levels.
For more information, contact:
July 2006
