Signs and symptoms
The condition is recognized by a yellow tinge to the skin and the whites of the eyes. To judge the yellowness of the skin and eyes accurately, observe the baby in natural light. (Artificial light obscures the true color.) If you suspect jaundice, inform the doctor at once.
Home care
The parents of a newborn should watch carefully for the development of jaundice in the first week of the child’s life at home. If jaundice develops, a doctor should see the child promptly.
Precautions
• Jaundice in the first 24 hours of life is abnormal. Because a newborn infant’s nervous system is especially susceptible to permanent damage, jaundice during the first days of life has special significance.
• Jaundice that develops or worsens after a baby leaves the hospital should be reported to your doctor.
• Poor nursing, excessive drowsiness, irritability, and fever in a jaundiced baby should be reported to the doctor immediately.
• If your infant develops jaundice, follow your physician’s directions exactly.
Medical treatment
Blood tests and cultures are used to identify the cause of the jaundice and to chart the progress of the condition. To lower the bilirubin level, your doctor may expose the baby to ultraviolet light or replace the infant’s blood with that of a donor.
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