NEONATAL JAUNDICE

Course overview

NEONATAL JAUNDICE IS YELLOWISH DISCOLORATION OF THE SKIN, CONJUNCTIVA, AND SCLERA DUE TO ELEVATED SERUM OR PLASMA BILIRUBIN IN THE NEWBORN PERIOD. NEONATAL JAUNDICE IS TYPICALLY A MILD AND TRANSIENT EVENT. HOWEVER, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO IDENTIFY NEWBORNS WITH JAUNDICE THAT PRESENT WITH MORE SEVERE JAUNDICE OR WHOSE JAUNDICE DOES NOT RESOLVE IN A TYPICAL MANNER. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF NEONATAL JAUNDICE AND THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE CARE OF AFFECTED PATIENTS.