An accumulation of bilirubin under the skin of the newborn infant giving the infant a yellowish hue.
A condition observed in neonates wherein the liver is insufficiently mature to process bilirubin, resulting in its accumulation within the bloodstream.
Newborn babies may exhibit a yellow tint in their skin and the whites of their eyes due to the buildup of the yellow-brown bile pigment, bilirubin, in their blood. Neonatal jaundice typically occurs because the infant’s liver isn’t mature enough to process bilirubin effectively. Often more prevalent in breastfed babies, this condition is generally benign and typically fades within a week.
In uncommon instances, intense or prolonged neonatal jaundice may stem from the blood condition known as haemolytic disease of the newborn, the genetic disorder G6PD deficiency, hepatitis (liver inflammation), hypothyroidism (reduced thyroid gland activity), biliary atresia (misformation or lack of bile ducts), or an infection.
Babies with jaundice often need additional hydration and might undergo phototherapy (light therapy). For more severe cases, an exchange transfusion may be necessary. If severe neonatal jaundice isn’t addressed quickly, it can lead to kernicterus, a type of brain damage.