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Neonatal jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the white part of the eyes and skin in a newborn baby due to high bilirubin levels. [1] Other symptoms may include excess sleepiness or poor feeding. [1] Complications may include seizures, cerebral palsy, or kernicterus. [1] In most of cases there is no specific underlying physiologic disorder. [2]
Jaundice in infants, as in adults, is characterized by increased bilirubin levels (infants: total serum bilirubin greater than 5 mg/dL). Normal physiological neonatal jaundice is due to immaturity of liver enzymes involved in bilirubin metabolism, immature gut microbiota, and increased breakdown of fetal hemoglobin (HbF). [54]
Physiologic jaundice can be a benign condition that presents in newborns until two weeks of life. [2] However, jaundice that continues after two weeks requires follow up with measurement of total and conjugated bilirubin. [3] Elevated levels of conjugated bilirubin are never benign and require further evaluation for neonatal cholestasis. [3]
Mothers who are negative for the Kell 1 antigen develop antibodies after being exposed to red blood cells that are positive for Kell 1.Over half of the cases of hemolytic disease of the newborn owing the anti-Kell antibodies are caused by multiple blood transfusions, with the remainder due to a previous pregnancy with a Kell 1 positive baby.
[citation needed] Diagnosis is usually made by investigation of a newborn baby who has developed jaundice during the first week of life. Testing. Coombs - after birth, the newborn will have a direct Coombs test run to confirm antibodies attached to the infant's red blood cells. This test is run from cord blood. [5]
Infants born with congenital hypothyroidism may show no effects, or may display mild effects that often go unrecognized as a problem. Significant deficiency may cause excessive sleeping, reduced interest in nursing, poor muscle tone, low or hoarse cry, infrequent bowel movements, significant jaundice, and low body temperature. [citation needed]
Jaundice occurs when blood contains an excess amount of bilirubin. “For most babies this is not a big deal, it clears out,” Tiffany Green, an associate professor in the obstetrics and ...
In premature babies, the incidence and mortality rates are higher due to the weakness of their immune system. For infants with low birth weight, cases of early-onset sepsis is found to be about 26 per 1,000 and 8 per 1,000 live births. Certain populations of babies are at more risk as well.