Newborn jaundice

Alternative names

Jaundice of the newborn

Definition

Newborn jaundice is caused by high levels of bilirubin in the blood, which gives an infant's skin and eyeballs a yellowish tinge.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Bilirubin is a byproduct of the normal breakdown of red blood cells. The liver processes bilirubin so that it can be excreted by the body as waste. At birth, a baby's liver is still developing its ability to process bilirubin. Therefore, bilrubin levels are a little high at birth and jaundice is present to some degree in almost all newborns. This form of jaundice usually appears between the 2nd and 5th days of life and clears by 2 weeks. It usually causes no problems.

Breastfeeding jaundice is seen in 5-10% of newborns. This may occur when breast-fed babies do not take in enough breast milk and rarely requires treatment. Sometimes, however, breastfeeding does need to be interrupted and bottle-feeding substituted for a brief period of time to clear the jaundice.

Jaundice in a newborn is rarely caused by a serious illness. However, possible disorders that can cause jaundice in a baby include:

• biliary atresia
  
• ABO incompatibility (similar to a transfusion reaction, caused when fetal and maternal blood mingle before birth)
  
• Rh incompatibility (Anti-Rh antibodies)
  
• galactosemia (see galactosemia screen)
  
• cephalohematoma
  
• polycythemia
  
• glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
  
• infections, including urinary tract infection and sepsis