The fitness app that helps you stay healthy! Check it out on our website.
Jaundice in newborns is a common occurrence among infants shortly after birth.
Jaundice in newborns is present in nearly 50% of infants during the first few days of life. Despite its name, "jaundice," it is not a disease but rather a physiological condition. In neonatal jaundice, the liver is not yet fully capable of processing bilirubin, responsible for the yellow coloration of tissues, as a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown. (Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout our lives, both before and after birth.)
Each of us has a specific level of bilirubin in our blood, which is generally low due to the efficient functioning of the liver. In a newborn who has just been born, their liver is still developing, and often the number of red blood cells is larger compared to an adult. Shortly after birth, the process of red blood cell breakdown begins, alongside the creation of new blood cells. The byproduct of this breakdown (bilirubin) is expected to be removed from the body by the liver. However, in some cases, due to the underdevelopment of the liver, bilirubin accumulates, leading to jaundice in the infant.
Jaundice becomes visible when bilirubin levels rise above approximately 5 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), which is much higher than the 1 mg/dL commonly found in adults.
In cases where the rate of red blood cell breakdown is higher, the bilirubin level will be elevated and may pose a risk to the infant. These cases are more common in situations where there is a mismatch between the mother's and the infant's blood type, or in cases where the mother is Rh-negative and the infant is Rh-positive.
No. Newborn jaundice is not a disease and is not contagious.
This type of jaundice typically lasts for several days and usually resolves within a week from birth.
It's importnt to know that sometimes neonatal jaundice may persist beyond a week (up to 4-5 weeks), primarily when the baby is exclusively breastfed. Frequent feeding helps in producing breast milk, which, in turn, assists in reducing bilirubin levels in the baby more rapidly.
The treatment provided in cases of jaundice, where its level exceeds a certain threshold, involves placing the baby under a special phototherapy lamp with a specific wavelength of light. This light helps break down the visible bilirubin and assists the liver in reducing its levels.
In rare cases where the rate of red blood cell breakdown is significantly high, and bilirubin levels become excessively elevated, posing a danger to the baby's brain, blood exchange (blood transfusion) may be performed to prevent future damage.
The monitoring of neonatal jaundice is performed by the medical team in the Neonatal and Intensive Care Unit. Bilirubin levels are checked by a simple heel prick, collecting a few drops of blood into glass tubes, and measuring bilirubin levels in the department's laboratory.
A baby with jaundice who is admitted to the Neonatal Department will be closely monitored. After discharge, parents will be required to visit the follow-up clinic in the department to ensure the baby's complete recovery.
