Inconsolable or high-pitched cryingArching their body like a bowStiff, limp, or floppy bodyUnusual eye movements
Adults
Change in skin colorFlu-like symptoms, like fever and chillsDark urineClay-colored stoolItchy skinWeight loss
Blood in vomit or stoolTarry black stoolExtreme abdominal pain and tendernessSudden drowsiness, agitation, or confusionEasy bruising or bleeding, sometimes causing a rash of tiny reddish-purple dots or larger splotches
Breast Milk Jaundice This type of jaundice generally occurs in the baby’s second or later week of life. While it’s unclear the exact reason for breast milk jaundice, it’s thought that substances in the breast milk may hinder baby’s liver from properly processing bilirubin. This occurs when the mother’s blood type is O and the baby’s blood type is A or B or the mother’s Rh factor (a protein found on red blood cells) is negative and the baby is Rh positive. G6PD deficiency is most common in males of African heritage. “Infants of Mediterranean descent may also be at increased risk for G6PD deficiency,” explains David L. Hill, MD, adjunct assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. “But as long as doctors follow standard bilirubin monitoring guidelines, these issues shouldn’t overly concern parents.”
Internal bleedingBlood infection (sepsis)Viral or bacterial infectionsBlocked or scarred bile ductsRed blood cell abnormalityA condition that affects the liver, like cystic fibrosis, according to the March of Dimes
Risk Factors
While jaundice is very common, there are several factors that can elevate a baby’s chance of getting the condition, including: Sibling With Jaundice If you have one child that developed jaundice as a baby, there’s a higher chance that your other children will get jaundice as well.
Adults
Reabsorption of a large hematoma (a collection of clotted blood underneath the skin)Hemolytic anemias, where blood cells are prematurely destroyed and removed from the bloodstreamMedications, including acetaminophen, penicillin, oral contraceptives, chlorpromazine (Thorazine), and estrogenic or anabolic steroidsViruses, including hepatitis A, chronic hepatitis B and C, and Epstein-BarrAutoimmune DisordersAlcohol overuse leading to hepatitisRare genetic metabolic defectsGallstonesInflammation of the gallbladderGallbladder cancerPancreatic cancerNonalcoholic fatty liver disease from risk factors including diabetes and obesity
Light Meter Here, a light meter is placed on a baby’s head to check the transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) level. Blood Test The baby’s total serum bilirubin (TSB) level is tested after a small blood sample is taken from baby’s heel. According to the CDC, this is the best way to accurately measure bilirubin levels in an infant.
Adults
Blood Tests Various blood tests may be utilized, including a complete blood count, blood cultures, liver enzyme tests, and hepatitis tests.Imaging Tests Ultrasonography of the abdomen is often used to detect blockages in bile ducts. A computerized tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or other tests to evaluate the flow of bile through the liver may also be used.Liver Biopsy If viral hepatitis, drug use, or exposure to a toxin are suspected (or if a diagnosis is unclear), a biopsy may be required.Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) ERCP is a procedure that looks at the bile ducts through an endoscope, according to MedlinePlus.Laparoscopy (Rarely) Here, your doctor makes a small incision below the navel and inserts a tube fitted with a camera (laparoscope) to examine the liver and gallbladder. (If a larger incision is required, this procedure is then called a laparotomy.)
Prognosis of Jaundice
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Adults
Avoid hepatitis infectionIf you drink alcohol, drink in moderation, or stop if you have a history of hepatitis or liver injuryAvoid becoming overweight or obeseKeep your cholesterol levels healthy
ListlessnessTrouble waking upHigh-pitched cryingPoor feeding or suckingArching the body like a bowFever
The CDC is the nation’s health protection agency. Their website offers information about the signs, symptoms, diagnosis, risk factors, and treatment of jaundice. Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center, is one of the largest and most respected hospitals in the United States and a leader in research, education, and health information. Their website offers information about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of jaundice in adults. March of Dimes The nonprofit organization focusing on mothers and babies has information about the causes of jaundice, along with diagnosis and treatment.
