Jaundice in newborn babies up to a week old is called physiological jaundice. Jaundice that lasts for more than two weeks is called prolonged jaundice. Prolonged jaundice can be a sign of serious liver disease. Jaundice that develops in the first 24 hours of a baby’s life requires urgent medical attention.
Causes—
- Physiological jaundice
- Maternal-fetal blood group incompatibility (Rh, ABO)
- Breast milk jaundice
Certain chemicals in breast milk are thought to be responsible. It is usually a harmless condition that resolves spontaneously
- Breast feeding jaundice
It occurs when the breastfed newborn does not receive adequate breast milk intake.
- Cephalohematoma (a collection of blood under the scalp)
- Prematurity
- Metabolic liver disease
- Hypothyroidism
- G6PD deficiency
- Gilbert’s syndrome
- Crigler-Najjar syndrome
- Hepatitis
Symptoms And Signs–
- Slightly yellow skin
- Yellow coloration (whites of eyes, mouth, soles of feet, palms of hands, chest, stomach)
- Lethargy
- Changes in muscle tone
- High-pitched crying
- Seizures
- Pruritus
- Poor sucking or feeding
- Sleepiness
- Limpness
- Dark urine
- White or creamy feces
Investigations–
- Blood test–
- Bilirubin
- ABORh
- Urine test
- Stool test
Treatment—
Jaundice usually disappears after 10 to 14 days, but it may last up to three weeks in premature babies
- Phototherapy (treatment with UV light)
- An exchange transfusion
Complications—
Kernicterus