Newborn Jaundice

Key Points

Overview

Newborn jaundice is a very common condition where a baby's skin and the whites of their eyes appear yellow. This yellow color is due to a buildup of bilirubin, a waste product, in the blood. It's usually harmless and often gets better on its own without specific treatment. This buildup happens because a newborn baby's liver is not fully developed and cannot process bilirubin as efficiently as an adult's liver. As the baby's liver matures over the first few weeks, it becomes more capable of removing bilirubin from the body, and the jaundice typically clears. For most babies, the yellowing is most noticeable around 3 days after birth and usually goes away within about 2 weeks. However, it's important to monitor symptoms and seek medical advice if they worsen or persist.

Signs and Symptoms

• Yellow skin, starting on the face and head, spreading to the body
• Yellow whites of the eyes
• Yellow under the tongue or inside the cheeks
• Dark yellow or brown urine (urgent sign)
• Pale creamy colored stool (urgent sign)
• Sleepier than normal or difficult to wake (urgent sign)
• Not feeding well (urgent sign)
• Floppy or stiff body (urgent sign)
• Jerking or twitching movements (urgent sign)
• High temperature (38C or more) or low temperature (36C or less) (urgent sign)
• No wet diapers (urgent sign)
• Difficulty breathing, grunting, or fast breathing (urgent sign)

Things That Increase the Risk

• Immature liver function in newborns
• Being born with Gilbert's syndrome
• Certain infections, such as rubella
• Different blood type between mother and baby (haemolytic disease)
• Underlying problems with how the baby’s liver works
• Jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours of life

Diagnosis

• Regular checks by healthcare team after birth
• Bilirubin level measurement using a blood test
• Bilirubin level measurement using a special light on the skin
• Additional blood tests for underlying causes
• Urine tests for underlying causes
• Ultrasound scans of the baby's liver for specific problems

Treatment & Management

• Encouraging regular feeding (8 to 12 times daily)
• Waking baby for feeds if sleepy
• Phototherapy (shining a special light on the skin)
• Hospital-based phototherapy
• Home-based phototherapy (in some cases)
• Blood transfusion (rarely needed for severe cases)
• Medicine given into a vein (rarely needed for severe cases)

Prevention

• Regular monitoring for jaundice by healthcare providers after birth
• Observing baby's skin and eyes for yellowing at home
• Ensuring adequate and frequent feeding to help bilirubin excretion
• Seeking prompt medical advice for any worsening symptoms
• Early diagnosis and management of underlying conditions causing jaundice

Related Diseases

• Gilbert's Syndrome
• Rubella
• Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN)
• Biliary Atresia
• Crigler-Najjar Syndrome
• Neonatal Sepsis
• Hypothyroidism

Available Treatments

Explore our range of treatment options for Newborn Jaundice: