Jaundice, which refers to the yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes, is a common problem in newborns.
But right now, hospitals across the country, including the University of Maryland Hospital for Children (UMHC), are paying close attention to this condition because of an increase in cases of severe brain damage caused by untreated jaundice.
"Jaundice is caused in babies when their livers cannot filter bilirubin, the byproduct of hemoglobin from decomposing red blood cells," says Renee Fox, M.D., director of neonatology at UMHC.
If not treated, high levels of bilirubin can cause serious health problems, such as cerebral palsy, seizures and a rare brain condition called kernicterus.
The increase in untreated jaundice cases may be due in part to shorter hospital stays following a delivery. Doctors and nurses are given just 48 hours to screen for jaundice.
Premature babies are at a higher risk of becoming jaundiced because their livers are less mature and not as capable of handling the bilirubin compared to full-term babies.
Because of this increase, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is now asking hospitals to aggressively screen newborns for jaundice, and to tell new parents to bring their babies back for a checkup within days of delivery.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends babies who are released from the hospital within two days after birth should be seen by a health care provider within the next three days for any signs of jaundice.
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