How should jaundice be treated?
It is both normal and common for healthy newborn infants to become jaundiced. This occurs in about 15% of full-term infants and more frequently in preterm. The most common jaundice in newborn infants is physiological and is seldom harmful. In a small proportion of infants jaundice is a sign of a serious disease. In these cases it usually appears early and/or progresses to become severe. The most common causes of severe jaundice are haemolytic diseases of different aetiologies and infections. Jaundice is a very common condition affecting babies in the first week of life. It occurs when the baby’s body breaks down excess red blood cells, producing a yellow pigment called bilirubin. The bilirubin colours the baby’s skin and often white of the eyes. Physiological jaundice is a temporary condition which starts within a few days of birth. It usually resolves without treatment. Regular breastfeeds and exposure to daylight help clear it up. Jaundice that appears on day 1 is less normal, and mo
