If jaundice is caused by an underlying health problem, such as an infection, this usually needs to be treated. If the jaundice is caused by rhesus disease when the mother has rhesus-negative blood and the baby has rhesus-positive blood , intravenous immunoglobulin IVIG may be used. IVIG is usually only used if phototherapy alone hasn't worked and the level of bilirubin in the blood is continuing to rise.
Learn more about IVIG treatment for rhesus disease. Page last reviewed: 04 September Next review due: 04 September Phototherapy Phototherapy is treatment with a special type of light not sunlight. There are 2 main types of phototherapy. This involves using more than one light and often a fibreoptic blanket at the same time. Treatment won't be stopped during continuous multiple phototherapy. Exchange transfusion If your baby has a very high level of bilirubin in their blood or phototherapy hasn't been effective, they may need a complete blood transfusion , known as an exchange transfusion.
Your baby's blood will be tested within 2 hours of treatment to check if it's been successful. Babies with East Asian or Mediterranean ethnic backgrounds. Ethnic background means the part of the world or the ethnic group your ancestors come from. An ethnic group is a group of people, often from the same country, who share language or culture. Ancestors are family members who lived long ago, even before your grandparents. How do you know if your baby has jaundice?
If untreated, kernicterus can cause: Athetoid cerebral palsy. Babies with this condition have uncontrollable movements in the arms, legs, face and other body parts. Hearing loss Vision problems Dental problems Intellectual disabilities How are babies checked for jaundice? This is the best way to measure bilirubin levels. Physical exam. Skin test. The device measures the reflection of a special light that shines through her skin.
How is jaundice treated? If your baby has more severe jaundice, she may need treatment including: Phototherapy treatment also called light therapy or bili lights. This is when your baby is placed under special lights that help her body change bilirubin into a form that she can get rid of in her urine. While she is under the lights, your baby wears just a diaper and shields over her eyes. Some babies can lie on a light therapy blanket also called a fiber optic blanket that has tiny bright lights in it.
You may use the blanket in place of, or along with, the overhead lights. Exchange transfusion. Intravenous immunoglobulin also called IVIg. If you and your baby have different blood types, your baby may get immunoglobulin a blood protein through a needle into a vein.
See also: Premature babies Last reviewed: April, Prepare for a healthy pregnancy and baby this year. Kernicterus may result in:. The best preventive of infant jaundice is adequate feeding. Breast-fed infants should have eight to 12 feedings a day for the first several days of life. Formula-fed infants usually should have 1 to 2 ounces about 30 to 60 milliliters of formula every two to three hours for the first week. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Infant jaundice is yellow discoloration of a newborn baby's skin and eyes. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter.
Show references Wong RJ, et al. Clinical manifestations of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in term and late preterm infants. Accessed April 2, Maisels MJ, et al. American Academy of Pediatrics Subcommittee on Hyperbilirubinemia. Management of hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn infant 35 or more weeks of gestation.
If jaundice isn't treated promptly or properly, however, bilirubin can build up to dangerous levels. Untreated, excessively high levels of bilirubin can cause a severe form of brain damage known as kernicterus. Early symptoms of this condition include:.
If your baby experiences any of these symptoms, get emergency help immediately. Kernicterus can cause permanent neurological damage, including hearing loss, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, and even death. Being premature increases a baby's risk of developing jaundice. Most babies who are born at term are able to metabolize bilirubin quite easily and pass it in their stools before too much accumulates. However, because a premature baby's liver isn't fully developed at birth, it may not fully metabolize bilirubin.
Fortunately, jaundice is so easy to diagnose that it rarely gets bad enough to cause kernicterus. Premature babies who are at risk will have their bilirubin levels closely monitored with either a blood test or forehead meter.
The first-line treatment for jaundice is phototherapy, in which a newborn is exposed to special lights known as bili lights.
The light literally helps the baby's body break down bilirubin into a form that can be easily excreted. A baby being treated with phototherapy will be undressed except for a diaper so that as much skin as possible can be exposed to the light. Their eyes will be covered. They will lie in a warm bassinet or incubator—sometimes for several days—and their bilirubin levels will be measured at least once a day. Phototherapy doesn't hurt your baby's skin at all.
If you're nursing, you can breastfeed as usual. In fact, you may need to feed your baby more often, as phototherapy can be dehydrating.
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