NEWBORN JAUNDICE - SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT

Jaundice is not a disease, but rather a sign of an elevated blood bilirubin level. Jaundice is not painful, but in some babies, serious conditions can occur if hyperbilirubinemia is not treated. The presence of jaundice allows doctors to identify babies who are at risk of developing severe hyperbilirubinemia. If this happens, it can be toxic to the nervous system, potentially causing brain damage. Fortunately, safe and effective treatment is available.

JAUNDICE SYMPTOMS 

• The color change is noticeable first in the face, and then the chest, stomach area, arms, and then finally to the legs. However, in some babies, the head-to-toe progression of jaundice may not be seen, and the jaundice may appear over the entire body like a tan.
• Can be checked by pressing one finger on a baby's forehead or nose. If the skin is jaundiced, it will appear yellow when the finger is removed (called "blanching" the skin).

Can be followed in some babies by pressing over their bony prominences of their chest, hips, and knees to check if the jaundice is worsening.

Signs of worsening jaundice

• The yellow color is at the knee or lower, is more dark in appearance (lemon yellow to orange yellow), or if the "whites" of the eyes appear yellow
• Your baby has a fever
• Your baby has any difficulty eating
• Your baby is more sleepy than usual
• It is hard to wake up your baby
• Your baby is irritable and is difficult to console
• Your baby arches his/her neck or body backwards

Call your baby's doctor if any of the above occur.

JAUNDICE TREATMENT 

• Providing adequate breast milk is an important part of preventing and treating jaundice because it helps in the elimination of bilirubin in stools and urine. If your baby is not getting enough through breastfeeding, your doctor can talk to you about options such as supplementing with formula or donor breast milk. You will know that your baby is getting enough milk if s/he has at least six wet diapers per day, the color of their stools will change from dark green to yellow, and s/he seems satisfied after feeding.
• Phototherapy ("light" therapy) is the most common medical treatment for hyperbilirubinemia in babies. Exposure to sunlight was previously thought to be helpful but is no longer recommended due to the risk of sunburn unless ultraviolet rays are filtered out. Sunburn does not occur with the lights used in phototherapy.
• Exchange transfusion is an emergency, life-saving procedure that is sometimes necessary to rapidly decrease bilirubin levels. Exchange transfusion is performed only for babies who have not responded to other treatments and who have signs of or are at significant neurologic risk due to bilirubin toxicity.