Health Information
Jaundice in Newborns (Hyperbilirubinemia)
Symptoms
Your newborn's skin and white part of the eyes will look yellow if he or she has Reference jaundice Opens New Window. This yellow tint usually appears first in the infant's face and chest between 1 and 5 days after birth, although the exact timing may vary by child and by the Reference type of jaundice.
Brain damage (Reference kernicterus Opens New Window) can develop if a baby with a high Reference bilirubin Opens New Window blood level is not treated. See your doctor right away if your baby develops signs of a high bilirubin level, which include:
- Sluggishness and poor sucking ability.
- Irritability, jitteriness, and crying.
- Arching of the baby's back.
- A shrill, high-pitched cry.
Signs of a very high level of bilirubin may include:
- Periods of not breathing (apnea) or difficulty breathing (dyspnea).
- Seizures.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference May 11, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference John Pope, MD - Pediatrics
Reference Chuck Norlin, MD - Pediatrics |
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