Neonatal Jaundice - Signs and Symptoms

Creator: Dr. Reeja Tharu
Keywords: Neonatal jaundice symptoms, seizures, high-pitched crying, apnea, bilirubin

Written by - Dr. Reeja Tharu, M.Phil.,Ph.D

Medically Reviewed by - Dr. Ramya Ananthakrishnan, MD

Last Updated on Dec 03, 2019

Signs and Symptoms of Neonatal Jaundice

Most babies with Neonatal Jaundice appear normal. Severity may lead to complications.

The signs and symptoms of Neonatal Jaundice largely depend on the underlying causes.

In the physiological type of Jaundice, the baby usually feeds well and the physical examination reveals a normal liver. The urine color is dark, while the stool appears normal.
High levels of bilirubin can cause high-pitched crying, Apnea (temporary stoppage of breathing), listlessness, Seizures and arched backs in the infants.
Extremely high levels of bilirubin (Hyperbilirubinemia) lead to Kernicterus, a condition where the brain is severely damaged.

Published on Nov 12, 2014
Last Updated on Dec 03, 2019

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Comments

vaishali9524 - Aug 09, 2014

To prevent newborns from jaundice..keep your baby well hydrated with breast milk..and Frequent feedings [up to 12 times a day] encourage frequent bowel movements, which help remove bilirubin through the stools....

mehak464 - Feb 23, 2013

sir my baby billuribin ranges from 20-30 os this range is dangerous we also using phototherophy what u suggest.

avdhut85 - Oct 07, 2010

sir my baby's billrubin is 17 for how many days phototherapy shud be don

r.arunkumar - Jul 15, 2010

neonatal jaundice measurement by new technology using radiation
measurement
by
R.ARUNKUMAR (ECE)

guest - Sep 16, 2008

prevalence of kernicterus among Libyan full term healthy babies Discussion The results demonstrated that hyperbilirubinemia in full term otherwise healthy infants can lead to severe encephalopathy ,and what remain controversial is the bilirubin level that results in such injury, it is still undetermined whether a continuous linear relationship or a threshold level exists for bilirubin toxicity,we have noticed that all babies with serum bilirubin >40 mg developed Kernicterus ,and those with serum bilirubin ranges between 20-25mg had no kernicterus,and those with serum bilirubin ranges 25-35mg some developed Kernicterus and others had no adverse effect till now, although intellectual out come need years of follow up to declared that they are normal. we have seen that 34 babies out of 70 who received ET developed Kernicterus either because they seek medical advice late or their serum bilirubin was too high ,the other 8 babies who was not treated with ET, 5 of them developed Kernicterus on follow up . The prevalence of kernicterus among our babies was 15%,we tried to compare with worldwide prevalence.

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