Neonatal jaundice is common, harmless

Neonatal jaundice is very common among infants with high level of bilirubin in their blood. About 60 per cent of infants born after normal duration of pregnancy and 80 per cent of premature infants suffer from this condition.

Such a condition is often termed as harmless or physiological jaundice.

Characteristics of neonatal jaundice:

•       The condition shows up within 24 hours of the baby’s birth.

•       Neonatal jaundice develops in infants of 3-5 days if they are born after full term pregnancy and in premature babies of 5-7 days.

•       Neonatal jaundice generally disappears in two weeks.

•      Treatment for mild jaundice is unnecessary. If the bilirubin level is 15gm or below, this harmless for the infants.

•      It will be considered as pathological jaundice if the bilirubin level exceeds 15mg and occurs within 24 hours after birth and does not disappear in two weeks.

•      It is serious if the level increases by 0.5 mg in every hour and the level reaches more than 25 mg.

Prevention and treatment

The pregnant mother's ABO and Rh blood tests must be conducted.

•       The level of bilirubin in every infant of 3-5 should be checked.

•       Consult doctors or experienced persons if the infant shows symptoms such as yellowish skin or eyes.

•       Continue breastfeeding even if the baby has jaundice.

*Pranab Kumar Chowdhury is paediatrics. This piece originally published in Prothom Alo print edition has been rewritten in English by Farjana Liakat.