Parents Zone

A Look at Jaundice

What Is Jaundice?
Jaundice in babies is the symptom of elevated bilirubin levels, a chemical by-product of haemoglobin, which is normal in all newborns.  Up to 60% of healthy newborns who have been born after being carried full-term, will show no symptoms at all of these elevated levels, whereas the other 40% will have the yellowish tinge to their skin, and white's of their eyes, characteristic of jaundice, which will generally only be apparent during the first week of a child's life.  Jaundice is predominately more common with premature or sick babies and can last longer than it does in healthy, full-term babies.

What Causes It?
For the type of jaundice commonly seen in babies,  it is caused by the elevated levels of bilirubin which is a waste product eliminated by the liver.  As with all babies, their liver can take a few days to begin functioning at it's full capacity, and therefore takes longer to rid the body of the chemical, hence the symptom of jaundice.  With premature babies, the liver may take a bit longer to gain full strength, and even longer if the baby is sick, therefore it is common for the jaundice to remain present for longer periods.  Jaundice is not serious or life-threatening, unless there are other under-lying causes for it's presence such as, liver disease or liver failure, or if, in severe cases, it is not treated.

How Is It Treated?
Moderate cases of jaundice, as is seen in most healthy, full-term babies, has no need for treatment.  As a rule, after a few days, the liver begins functioning at it's full capacity, completely eliminates the bilirubin, continues to do so on a regular basis, and the jaundice, quite simply, disappears.  In more severe cases, such as with premature and/or sick babies, the use of phototherapy may be recommended. 

What Is Phototherapy?
Have you ever seen newborns lying naked beneath bright lights with those seemingly over-sized eye masks on?  Well, this is phototherapy.  An intense light, the blue-green part of the visable spectrum, is placed over your baby and delivers a frequency of light which helps convert the potentially harmful bilirubin, to the harmless, water-soluble, biliverdin.  Keeping baby in rooms filled with natural light rather than darkness will also help with the fading of jaundice.

If elevated bilirubin is not treated, or isn't eliminated by the liver, it can cause neurological damage and other disabilities.  This is only true for prolonged periods of elevated levels, and not for the normal time it takes for most newborn's livers to eliminate the chemical. If your baby has prolonged jaundice please see your doctor and have your baby checked.  A blood test can show the level of bilirubin in your baby's system, and further tests will help identify the problem causing it.