Newborn jaundice

Alternative names:

jaundice of the newborn; physiologic jaundice of the newborn

Definition:

A condition of yellowish skin color during the newborn period

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Physiologic jaundice of the newborn, the most common cause of newborn jaundice, is present to some degree in almost all newborns. The jaundice is caused by an elevated bilirubin level in the blood. This results from the immaturity of liver function combined with the destruction of red blood cells present in the newborn infant. The jaundice usually appears between the 2nd and 5th days of life and clears by 2 weeks.

Non-physiologic, prolonged, or pathogenic jaundice in the newborn may have many causes. Risk factors for a greater degree of jaundice include prematurity and different races. Other conditions may cause pathologic (disease-related) jaundice in the newborn and should be ruled out if the jaundice persists, or if other symptoms are present. These disorders 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)
• cephalhematoma
• polycythemia
• glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
• neonatal sepsis
• congenital cytomegalovirus infection (CMV)
• congenital toxoplasmosis
• congenital syphilis
• congenital herpes
• congenital rubella
• late pregnancy administration of sulfa drugs to the mother
• Crigler-Najjar syndrome
• spherocytosis (congenital hemolytic anemia)
• cystic fibrosis
• breastmilk jaundice
• pyruvate kinase deficiency
• thalassemia
• Gilbert's syndrome
• congenital hypothyroidism
• Lucey-Driscol syndrome
• Gaucher's disease
• Niemann-Pick disease