Jaundice in the newborn

Abstract

Hyperbilirubinemia is the commonest morbidity in the neonatal period and 5–10% of all newborns require intervention for pathological jaundice. Neonates on exclusive breast-feeding have a different pattern of physiological jaundice as compared to artificially fed babies. Guidelines fromAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for management of jaundice in a normal term newborn have been included in the protocol. Separate guidelines have been provided for the management of jaundice in sick term babies, preterm and low birth weight babies, for jaundice secondary to hemolysis and for prolonged hyperbilirubinemia. Although hour specific bilirubin charts are available, these have to be validated in Indian infants before they are accepted for widespread use.