Neonatal jaundice

Last reviewed: 24 Aug 2023
Last updated: 24 Mar 2023

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presence of risk factors
  • cephalocaudal progression
  • decreasing gestational age
  • male
  • family history of jaundice
  • family history of anemia
  • family history of splenectomy
  • maternal exposure to sulfonamides or antimalarials
  • hepatosplenomegaly
  • microcephaly
  • chorioretinitis
  • small for gestational age
  • cephalhematoma
  • hypertonia
  • high-pitched cry
  • retrocollis
  • opisthotonus
More key diagnostic factors

Other diagnostic factors

  • perinatal asphyxia
  • macrosomia
  • plethora
  • hypotonia
  • lethargy
Other diagnostic factors

Risk factors

  • Asian
  • American-Indian
  • maternal diabetes
  • oxytocin in labor
  • low birth weight
  • decreased gestational age
  • decreased caloric intake and weight loss
  • breast-feeding
  • delayed cord clamping (2 to 3 minutes)
  • genetic factors
More risk factors

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB)
  • total serum bilirubin
  • direct Coombs test
  • direct serum bilirubin
  • hematocrit
  • CBC
  • reticulocyte count
  • peripheral blood smear
  • blood groups
More 1st investigations to order

Investigations to consider

  • glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) screening
  • osmotic fragility test
  • blood culture
  • liver function tests
  • urine for reducing substances
  • plasma amino acids
  • urine organic acids
  • urine culture
  • abdominal ultrasound
  • percutaneous liver biopsy
More investigations to consider

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

physiologic hyperbilirubinemia

pathologic hyperbilirubinemia: unconjugated

pathologic hyperbilirubinemia: conjugated

breast-feeding/breast milk jaundice

Contributors

Authors

Vineet Bhandari, MBBS, MD, DM
Vineet Bhandari

Division Head, Neonatology

Vice Chair, Faculty Development

Department of Pediatrics

The Children's Regional Hospital at Cooper

Professor of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Biomedical Sciences

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University

Camden

NJ

Disclosures

VB declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Gautham K. Suresh, MD, DM, MS

Professor of Pediatrics

Chair of Pediatrics and Pediatrician-in-Chief

Nemours Children's Hospital

Orlando

FL

Disclosures

GKS declares that he has no competing interests.

Helen McElroy, MBChB, MRCPI, MSc

Consultant Neonatologist

Neonatology

Medway Maritime Hospital

Gillingham

UK

Disclosures

HM declares that she has no competing interests.

  • Neonatal jaundice images
  • Differentials

    • Carotenemia
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Clinical practice guideline revision: Management of hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn infant 35 or more weeks of gestation
    • Technical report: Diagnosis and management of hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn infant 35 or more weeks of gestation
    More Guidelines
  • Patient leaflets

    Jaundice in newborn babies: what is it?

    Jaundice in newborn babies: what treatments work?

    More Patient leaflets
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