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Neonatal jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the white part of the eyes and skin in a newborn baby due to high bilirubin levels. [1] Other symptoms may include excess sleepiness or poor feeding. [ 1 ]
If neonatal cholestasis is suspected or an infant is presenting with jaundice after two weeks of life, total and conjugated bilirubin must be measured. [10] Neonatal cholestasis is present if conjugated bilirubin value is >20% of total serum bilirubin or if serum conjugated bilirubin concentration is greater than 1.0 mg/dL. [2]
Jaundice in newborns is usually transient and dissipates without medical intervention. In cases when serum bilirubin levels are greater than 4–21 mg/dl (68–360 μmol/L), infant may be treated with phototherapy or exchanged transfusion depending on the infant's age and prematurity status. [9]
Rates of death were almost three times higher for the black population than for the white population. [35] When NEC is diagnosed and treated immediately, the prognosis for babies is generally very good. Most babies recover fully without any additional health problems. [18] Overall, about 70-80% of infants who develop NEC survive. [36]
The infant has also developed enough to participate in feedings by grasping bottles and pieces of food to feed themselves. [2] When beginning solids it is important that the infant starts consuming solids with iron. Infants store iron from the womb and by 6 months of age it has depleted from their body. [7]
When an infant is suspected to have hemolytic jaundice, abnormal morphologies of erythrocytes can be analyzed to find out the causes of hemolysis. [34] A Coomb's test should be performed, and end-tidal carbon monoxide concentration should be monitored to understand the rate of hemolysis in the infant's body. [35]
It is suggested infants fed with human colostrum have lower incidence of gastrointestinal infections. [25] In addition, colostrum also has a laxative effect, encouraging the baby's body to excrete stool, which helps eliminate excess bilirubin. [26] [27] [28] This helps prevent jaundice and allergies in babies. [29] [unreliable source?]
An estimated 24% of babies worldwide are born with lower than optimal weights at birth due to lack of proper nutrition. [3] Personal habits such as consumption of alcohol or large amounts of caffeine can negatively and irreversibly affect the development of the baby, which happens in the early stages of pregnancy.