| Jaundice is not a disease but rather a sign that can | | | | birth. It occurs when a baby's liver is not able to |
| occur in many different diseases. Jaundice is the | | | | sufficiently process bilirubin. Typically this condition |
| yellowish staining of the skin and sclerae (the whites | | | | disappears within one to two weeks. Because their |
| of the eyes) that is caused by high levels in blood of | | | | livers are less mature, preterm babies are more |
| the chemical bilirubin. The color of the skin and sclerae | | | | frequently affected by this form of jaundice. |
| vary depending on the level of bilirubin. When the | | | | Treatment of Jaundice |
| bilirubin level is mildly elevated, they are yellowish. | | | | Since jaundice is a symptom, not a specific disorder, |
| When the bilirubin level is high, they tend to be | | | | treatment for it depends on its cause. This can range |
| brown. | | | | from the removal of gallstones or tumors to |
| Jaundice is common in newborn babies and will usually | | | | antibiotics to treat infections, to liver transplant in |
| clear without treatment. However, for adults the | | | | cases where the liver is severely damaged. However, |
| symptoms of jaundice usually indicate damage to the | | | | for conditions like cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis, which |
| liver. If the cause of the jaundice is not treated, liver | | | | are lifelong problems, jaundice may be permanent or |
| failure can result. | | | | recurring. |
| Sings and Symptoms of Jaundice | | | | Exchange blood transfusion. Rarely, when severe |
| A simple test for jaundice is to gently press your | | | | jaundice doesn't respond to other treatments, a baby |
| fingertip on the tip of your child's nose or forehead. | | | | may need an exchange transfusion of blood. This |
| If the skin shows white (this test works for all races) | | | | involves repeatedly withdrawing small amounts of |
| there is no jaundice; if it shows a yellowish color, you | | | | blood, "diluting out" the bilirubin and maternal |
| should contact your child's doctor to see if significant | | | | antibodies, and then transferring blood back into the |
| jaundice is present. | | | | baby - a procedure that's performed in a newborn |
| Breast Milk Jaundice -- A very small number of | | | | intensive care unit. |
| breastfed babies, roughly 1percent to 2 percent, | | | | Jaundice in newborns must be treated if it becomes |
| develop jaundice because of substances in their | | | | severe as deposits can cause permanent brain |
| mother's breast milk that cause their bilirubin levels to | | | | damage. In all other cases, it is not the jaundice that |
| rise. | | | | needs to be treated but the underlying condition. |
| Infant jaundice commonly lasts for a week to 10 | | | | When/if the condition resolves, then the jaundice will |
| days in full-term newborns. If your baby is premature | | | | resolve as well. If an obstruction is present, surgery |
| or if you breast-feed your baby, jaundice may last | | | | may be necessary. |
| longer. | | | | Light therapy (phototherapy). Your baby may be |
| Jaundice may occur with the breakdown of red blood | | | | placed under a special ultraviolet light or wrapped in a |
| cells due to hemolytic disease of the newborn (Rh | | | | fiber-optic blanket of light. The light changes the |
| disease), having too many red blood cells, or bleeding. | | | | bilirubin into a form that can be eliminated by your |
| Physiological Jaundice -- This type of jaundice affects | | | | baby's kidneys. Newborns with jaundice typically |
| 50percent to 60 percent of full-term newborns in | | | | receive phototherapy for several days. |
| their first week, typically three to five days after | | | | |