Newborn jaundice is a common condition among infants, and it’s usually not serious and fades away within two weeks.

Newborn jaundice

Newborn jaundice is when the infant’s skin becomes yellow, and this occurs due to the buildup of bilirubin in the blood.

Causes and risk factors of newborn jaundice

• The baby’s body produces more bilirubin than adults, and the baby’s liver isn’t developed enough to get rid of all this bilirubin, which makes it accumulate in the blood.
• Other possible causes for neonatal jaundice include sepsis, internal bleeding, a viral or bacterial infection, a malfunction of the liver, an incompatibility between the mother’s and the baby’s blood, an enzyme deficiency, a problem in the red blood cells that makes them break down quickly, and biliary atresia (a problem in the bile ducts).
• The risk of jaundice in babies increases due to the following factors: preterm birth, breastfeeding, a family history of certain blood disorders, bruising from a difficult birth, a history of jaundice in a family member, Down syndrome, hypoxia, and being a larger-than-average baby with a mother who has diabetes.

Symptoms of newborn jaundice

• Yellowing of the baby’s skin and the whites of the eyes. It starts in the face and then moves to the rest of the body.
• Infant jaundice can lead to acute bilirubin encephalopathy and kernicterus (permanent damage in the brain).

Diagnosis of newborn jaundice

• Physical exam.
• Blood tests.

Treatment of newborn jaundice

• Mild cases of newborn jaundice typically go away on their own within a couple of weeks.
• Treatments for severe cases include phototherapy, enhanced nutrition, intravenous immunoglobulin, and exchange transfusion.
• Adequate feeding can reduce the risk of jaundice in newborns.