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Jaundice / Kernicterus - Risk Factors |
High levels of
bilirubin are toxic to the developing newborn's central nervous
system. In full-term infants, acute symptoms of severe
hyperbilirubinemia include extreme jaundice and neurologic
abnormalities in level of consciousness, tone and movement, and
brain stem function, particularly in relation to feeding and crying.
more
Jaundice within the first
24 hours after birth
A sibling who received
phototherapy as a newborn
Unrecognized hemolysis
such as ABO blood type incompatibility or Rh incompatibility
Non-optimal
sucking/nursing or exclusive breastfeeding
Deficiency in
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)
Infant born early,
especially late preterm births (34-37 weeks)
Cephalohematomas/bruising
East-Asian or
Mediterranean descent |
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Date:
March 28, 2007
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities
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