Newborn jaundice is not as dangerous as we thought 20
years ago. We used to start phototherapy at 12 where now we start treating
it at 19 blood level of bilirubin (jaundice). It is more severe in breast
fed babies and infants with uncommon blood disorders. It is helped by
indirect light from a window. It is also lowered by giving one bottle
of formula a day in the evenings (it will not turn them off to breast
feeding.) Jaundice hits it’s peak usually around 3-4 days of
age but there are exceptions. A small amount of jaundice can persist for 2
months with breast fed babies. There are rare liver disorders that can
cause increased jaundice at 6-8 weeks of age. The face and chest get
yellow at very low levels of jaundice. Press on the bottom of their
feet and then release it. If that area of their feet that you pressed
on looks yellow then call to get a blood test on the baby to see if it is
real high.
Then the babies get yellow
around 9-15 months old from the yellow vegetables. Their eyes are not
yellow and this in not jaundice. It is Carotenemia from the carotene (Vit.
A) found in squash, carrots and sweet potatoes. This is not dangerous and
does not need to be treated. Older children who get hepatitis A hardly ever
turn jaundiced. They have an upset stomach for a week and get over it. The
main reason I diagnose it in children is so I can give a shot to the parents
to prevent them from getting it. Although a mild illness in children, it is
very serious in adults and 1/500 die! Like many illnesses, it is usually
worse in adults. Ever seen chicken pox in a child verses an adult. Just
like the Flu: 30+ children die of the flu in all of America, but 35,000
adults die of the flu every year. The press can scare you more with the
children than with adults dieing. We now recommend the vaccine of Hepatitis
A for those living in the counties of Texas that boarder Mexico and those
children and adults going to underdeveloped countries for a while.
Dr. Knapp
