Quick Help for Newborns
Washington Post Friday, June 16,
2006; A24
The good news from the May 16 Health article "Jaundiced View" is
that a study provides evidence that if newborn jaundice is treated,
its long-term effects can be minimized.
The bad news is that, if not properly managed and treated promptly,
high levels of bilirubin (the substance that causes jaundice) can
cause a type of brain damage called kernicterus. Children with
kernicterus may have cerebral palsy, hearing loss, problems with
vision and teeth, and mental retardation. While 6 in 10 newborn
infants will develop jaundice, about 1 in 10 will need treatment.
It is important that all parents understand risk factors for
jaundice; ask a doctor or nurse about a jaundice bilirubin test
before their baby is discharged from the hospital; and take their
baby back to the doctor within 48 hours of leaving the hospital.
Together, parents and health-care providers can ensure good news for
every baby with newborn jaundice.
JOSE F. CORDERO
Director
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |