By Caroline Gillott on December 19, 2017
Infant jaundice is a condition where a baby’s skin, and the white part of their eye, appear yellow. Jaundice is a common condition in infants, affecting over 50 percent of all newborns. Jaundice is particularly common in premature babies – boys more often than girls. It usually appears within the baby’s first week of life. In an otherwise healthy baby born at full term, infant jaundice is rarely a cause for alarm; it tends to go away on its own. However, if treatment is necessary, infants tend to respond to non-invasive therapy. In rare cases, untreated infant jaundice may lead to brain damage and even death. Share on PinterestThe cause of jaundice is excess bilirubin, a waste product produced when red blood cells are broken down. Infant jaundice is caused by an excess of bilirubin. Bilirubin is a waste product, produced when red blood cells are broken down. It is normally broken down in the liver and removed from the body in the stool. Before a baby is born, it has a different form of hemoglobin. Once they are born, they very rapidly break down the old hemoglobin. This generates higher than normal levels of bilirubin that must be filtered out of the bloodstream by the liver and sent to the intestine for excretion. However, an underdeveloped liver cannot filter out the bilirubin as fast as it is being produced, resulting in hyperbilirubinemia (an excess of bilirubin). Infant jaundice with breast-feeding is common. It occurs in newborns that are breast-fed in two separate forms:
Some cases of severe infant jaundice are linked to an underlying disorder; these include:
Common risk factors for infant jaundice are:
The most pervasive sign of infant jaundice is yellow skin and sclerae (the whites of the eyes). This typically starts at the head, and spreads to the chest, stomach, arms, and legs. Symptoms of infant jaundice can also include:
Symptoms of severe infant jaundice include:
Doctors recommend that babies be tested for jaundice before being discharged from the hospital and again 3-5 days after birth, when bilirubin levels are highest. Doctors will most likely diagnose jaundice based on appearance alone. However, the severity of jaundice will be determined by measuring levels of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin levels can be checked via a serum bilirubin (SBR) blood test or a transcutaneous bilirubinometer device, which measures how much of a certain light shines through the skin. If the infant’s jaundice persists for more than 2 weeks, doctors may perform further blood tests and urine tests to check for underlying disorders. However, in breast-fed babies who are otherwise well and feeding and gaining weight appropriately, this can be normal. Share on PinterestPhototherapy, pictured here, is a treatment for cases of infant jaundice that do not resolve on their own. Typically, treatment for mild jaundice in infants is unnecessary, as it tends to disappear on its own within 2 weeks. If the infant has severe jaundice, they may need to be readmitted to the hospital for treatment to lower levels of bilirubin in the bloodstream. In some less severe cases, treatment may be done at home. Some treatment options for severe jaundice include:
If jaundice is caused by something else, surgery or drug treatment may be required. Untreated jaundice may lead to complications.
Other serious, but rare complications include deafness and cerebral palsy. The best way of reduce chances of an infant developing jaundice is to make sure they are well fed. For the first week or so of life, breast-fed babies should be fed 8-12 times a day, while formula-fed babies should be fed 1-2 ounces of formula every 2-3 hours.
Babies with jaundice have a yellow coloring of the skin and eyes. This happens when there is too much bilirubin in the baby's blood. Bilirubin (bill-uh-ROO-bin) is a yellow substance that comes from the normal breakdown of red blood cells. The liver removes bilirubin from the blood and passes it into the bowels so it can leave the body. A newborn baby's liver does not remove bilirubin as well as an adult's does. Jaundice (JON-diss) happens when bilirubin builds up faster than the liver can break it down and pass it from the body. Most types of jaundice go away on their own. Others need treatment to lower bilirubin levels. What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Jaundice?A baby with jaundice has skin that looks yellow. It starts on the face, then the chest and stomach, and then the legs. The whites of a baby's eyes also look yellow. Babies with very high bilirubin levels may be sleepy, fussy, floppy, or have trouble feeding. Jaundice may be hard to see, especially in babies with dark skin. If you're unsure, gently press the skin on your baby's nose or forehead. If it's jaundice, the skin will appear yellow when you lift your finger. Call the doctor if your baby:
What Causes Jaundice in Newborns?Most healthy newborns have physiological ("normal") jaundice. This happens because newborns have more blood cells than adults do. These blood cells don't live as long, so more bilirubin is made when they break down. This kind of jaundice appears 2–4 days after the baby is born and goes away by the time a baby is 2 weeks old. A baby is more likely to get jaundice when he or she:
How Is Jaundice Diagnosed?Doctors can tell if a baby has jaundice based on a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. All newborns are checked for jaundice before leaving the hospital or birth center. Babies with jaundice will get a blood test to check bilirubin levels. Sometimes, a light machine that measures bilirubin in the skin is used. But if the level is high, a blood test must confirm the result. High bilirubin levels can lead to serious problems. So doctors carefully watch babies with jaundice. How Is Jaundice Treated?Treatment depends on the cause of the jaundice, the bilirubin levels, and a baby's age. Mild jaundice goes away after 1 or 2 weeks as a baby's body gets rid of the extra bilirubin on its own. For newborns with breastfeeding jaundice, mothers should breastfeed the baby more often. If the baby is not getting enough breast milk, the doctor may suggest supplementing with formula. For more serious cases of jaundice, treatment should start as soon as possible. Babies may get:
What Else Should I Know?Call the doctor if your baby has jaundice that isn't going away. Babies with jaundice for longer than 2 weeks need more testing to check for other things that cause jaundice. These include infections, and problems with the liver or bile system, metabolism, or genes. |