children s health issues
Jaundice in the Newborn
Key Points
In many newborns, jaundice develops 2 or 3 days after birth and disappears on its own within a week. Whether jaundice is of concern depends on what is causing it and how high the bilirubin levels are. Jaundice may result from serious disorders, such as incompatibility of the newborn’s and mother’s blood, excessive breakdown of red blood cells, or a severe infection. If jaundice develops in a newborn at home, parents should call their doctor right away. If jaundice is caused by a specific disorder, that disorder is treated. If high bilirubin levels require treatment, infants are typically treated with phototherapy and sometimes with exchange transfusions. 