Diseases

Hyperbilirubinemia

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Hyperbilirubinemia is a higher-than-normal level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a by-product of the breakdown of red blood cells. This condition can cause a yellow discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes called jaundice.

SYMPTOMS

Drowsiness, pale stools - breast-fed babies should have greenish-yellow stools, while those of bottle fed babies should be a greenish-mustard color,poor sucking or feeding, dark urine - a newborn's urine should be colorless.

CAUSES

Infant jaundice is a common condition, particularly in babies born before 38 weeks gestation (preterm babies) and some breast-fed babies. Infant Jaundice usually occurs because a baby's liver isn't mature enough to get rid of bilirubin in the bloodstream. In some cases, an underlying disease may cause jaundice.