Jaundice

Jaundice is a condition that makes a baby’s skin and the white part of his eyes look yellow.

• Jaundice occurs when there is a buildup of a brownish yellow substance called bilirubin in a baby’s blood.
• Over half of all newborns develop some level of jaundice during their first week.
• Premature infants are more likely to develop jaundice.
• It is usually a temporary condition but may be a sign of a more serious illness.
• The coloring of bilirubin causes the baby’s skin and white part of the eyes to look yellow.
• The timing of when jaundice first appears in a baby helps diagnose it.

Early recognition and treatment are important in keeping bilirubin from rising to dangerous levels.