Neonatal Jaundice

Neonatal jaundice is a condition in which a baby’s skin and whites of the eyes become yellow due to an increase in the levels of a substance called bilirubin in the baby’s blood. It is the most common condition affecting newborns and is usually harmless, however, in some cases it can be serious and require medical treatment. Treatment typically involves exposing the baby to a specific type of light, called phototherapy, which helps break down the bilirubin in the baby’s blood. The overall importance of neonatal jaundice is to identify potentially serious cases of it early on so that proper medical treatment can be provided and that babies can recover quickly and fully.