What is jaundice in newborns (hyperbilirubinemia)?
-
Healthwise answered:Jaundice in newborns (also called hyperbilirubinemia) is a condition in which the skin and the whites of a baby's eyes appear yellow because of a buildup of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow-brown substance produced by the breakdown of red blood cells. During pregnancy, the mother's liver gets rid of fetal bilirubin. After birth, babies must eliminate bilirubin on their own. But many newborns cannot get rid of bilirubin as fast as they make it. Bilirubin then builds up in the baby's body, causing jaundice. Although jaundice should be monitored, it usually does not require medical treatment. Phototherapy, in which a baby is placed under special lights or fiber-optic blankets, may be used if bilirubin levels reach a high enough level. On rare occasions blood transfusions are needed. In rare cases, jaundice in a newborn may be a sign of another condition, such as infection, a digestive system problem or blood-type incompatibility with the mother.Jaundice in newborns (also called hyperbilirubinemia) is a condition in which the skin and the whites of a baby's eyes appear yellow because of a buildup of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow-brown substance produced by the breakdown of... More -
Dr. Julie Ann Gustin of Intermountain Healthcare answered:Jaundice is a yellow color that a baby (or any individual) can develop in the color of their skin. It's particularly concerning in the newborn period because a high level of jaundice can cause some brain abnormalities and some movement abnormalities later on. So we are pretty vigilant when looking for jaundice in babies.
Jaundice is caused by red blood cells breaking down. There's an element in the red blood cells called bilirubin that is released when they're broken down. Most of us process that through our livers. Newborns aren't quite ready to process all of that, so the bilirubin sits in the skin and causes their skin to be yellow, their eyes are yellow. The most important thing is to get babies eating, because bilirubin is excreted in the stool. So if they're eating well and having lots of poopy diapers, they'll get rid of the bilirubin. Occasionally, if it's too high, we have to put them under lights because ultraviolet (UV) light breaks down the bilirubin so kids can excrete it more easily.Jaundice is a yellow color that a baby (or any individual) can develop in the color of their skin. It's particularly concerning in the newborn period because a high level of jaundice can cause some brain abnormalities and some movement... More -
Dr. Deborah Raines of Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answered:Hyperbilirubinemia is an elevated level of bilirubin in the blood resulting in a yellowing of the skin and other tissues of a newborn. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that the body creates when it replaces old red blood cells. The liver helps break down the substance so it can be removed from the body in the infant's stool.
Hyperbilirubinemia is an elevated level of bilirubin in the blood resulting in a yellowing of the skin and other tissues of a newborn. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that the body creates when it replaces old red blood cells. The liver helps break... More
