Jaundice
Jaundice is characterized by a yellowish tinge to your baby’s skin and is fairly common in newborn babies.
It’s caused by a natural breakdown of red blood cells after the birth, which creates an excess of a pigment called bilirubin. Newborns are unable to break down bilrubin until their livers are more mature, at roughly one week old, which is why they may spend the first week of their lives looking a tad yellow!
In most babies jaundice clears up by itself and needs no treatment other than natural light on the skin, but some babies may need phototherapy. This involves your baby spending some time exposed to ultraviolet rays – these help break down the bilirubin and aren’t harmful.
Less common causes of jaundice are hepatitis and biliary atresia, which is a rare condition in which the bile ducts don’t form properly. Simple blood tests can be done to test for these conditions and to rule out anything else.
The information on this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 20/06/2007
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