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Breast milk jaundice - Symptom

Alternative Names

Hyperbilirubinemia

Symptoms:

Your child's skin, and possibly also the whites of the eyes (sclera) will look yellow.

Signs and tests:

Laboratory tests that may be done include:

Bilirubin level (total and direct)
Blood smear to look at blood cell shapes and sizes
Blood typing
Complete blood count
Reticulocyte count (number of slightly immature red blood cells)

In some cases, a blood test to check for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) may be done. G6PD is a protein that helps red blood cells work properly.

Bili lights

Jaundice infant

Reviewed last on: 6/21/2011
Kimberly G. Lee, MD, MSc, IBCLC, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Moerschel SK, Cianciaruso LB, Tracy LR. A practical approach to neonatal jaundice. Am Fam Physician. 2008;77:1255-1262.

Preer GL, Philipp BL. Understanding and managing breast milk jaundice. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. doi: 10.1136/adc.2010.184416.

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