Jaundice

Jaundice is very common in new born babies. The skin takes on a yellow hue as do the eyes. Jaundice usually appears around the second or third day of life. It begins at the head and goes down the body to the chest, stomach and legs. Nowadays many babies are released quite early from hospital so parents should keep an look out. Jaundice is caused by excessive bilirubin in the blood.

Bilirubin is produced through the normal breakdown of red blood cells and normally passes through the liver and is then excreted. However in newborns this is not possible for a number of reasons and hence the skin changes colour into the characteristic yellow tone. The reasons why this substance can't be broken down are typically due to the fact that the baby's liver has not matured and is not in full working order yet. In the huge majority of cases jaundice does not develop into anything more serious and has no lasting effect on your children.


What to Do

Consult your doctor if you are concerned.

A simple test for jaundice is to gently press your fingertip on the tip of your child's nose or forehead. If the skin shows white (this test works for all races) there is no jaundice; if it shows a yellowish colour, you should contact your child's doctor to see if jaundice is present. A simple blood test can determine the level of bilirubin in your child's blood.