N
The Daily Insight

What causes hyperbilirubinemia in newborns

Author

Andrew Vasquez

Updated on May 18, 2026

Infant jaundice usually occurs because a baby’s liver isn’t mature enough to get rid of bilirubin in the bloodstream. In some babies, an underlying disease may cause infant jaundice.

Why do newborns get hyperbilirubinemia?

Infant jaundice usually occurs because a baby’s liver isn’t mature enough to get rid of bilirubin in the bloodstream. In some babies, an underlying disease may cause infant jaundice.

What are the causes of hyperbilirubinemia?

  • Physiologic jaundice. …
  • Breastfeeding failure jaundice. …
  • Breast milk jaundice. …
  • Jaundice from hemolysis. …
  • Jaundice related to inadequate liver function.

What is the most common cause of hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn?

The most common causes of hemolytic jaundice include (a) Rh hemolytic disease, (b) ABO incompatibility and (c) Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency and minor blood group incompatibility.

How is hyperbilirubinemia treated?

  1. Phototherapy. …
  2. Fiberoptic blanket. …
  3. Exchange transfusion to replace the blood that has a high bilirubin level with fresh blood that has a normal bilirubin level. …
  4. Adequate hydration with breastfeeding or pumped breast milk.

What is the most common methods used for treating hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn?

Phototherapy is an effective treatment for hyperbilirubinemia, but the number needed to treat varies widely depending on sex, gestational age, and time since delivery. If indicated, phototherapy should be initiated based on gestational age and risk factors.

Can hyperbilirubinemia be cured?

In adults, jaundice itself usually isn’t treated. But your doctor will treat the condition that’s causing it. If you have acute viral hepatitis, jaundice will go away on its own as the liver begins to heal. If a blocked bile duct is to blame, your doctor may suggest surgery to open it.

Does jaundice cause dehydration in newborns?

Breastfeeding failure jaundice Not feeding well makes your baby dehydrated. It also causes your baby to urinate less. This makes bilirubin build up in your baby’s body.

What is the danger of hyperbilirubinemia?

What are possible complications of hyperbilirubinemia in a newborn? High levels of bilirubin can travel to your baby’s brain. This can cause seizures and brain damage. This is called kernicterus.

How is neonatal hyperbilirubinemia diagnosed?

In most cases, a bilirubinometer is used to check for jaundice in babies. Blood tests are usually only necessary if your baby developed jaundice within 24 hours of birth or the reading is particularly high. The level of bilirubin detected in your baby’s blood is used to decide whether any treatment is needed.

Article first time published on

Can hyperbilirubinemia cause death?

If bilirubin levels become toxic in the brain, complications may occur, especially in newborns, This can lead to a condition known as kernicterus in which seizures, irreversible brain damage, and death can occur.

How long does a baby have to stay in the hospital for jaundice?

Treatment in the hospital most often lasts 1 to 2 days. Your child needs treatment when their bilirubin level is too high or rising too quickly. To help break down the bilirubin, your child will be placed under bright lights (phototherapy) in a warm, enclosed bed.

How do I get my baby's bilirubin down?

  1. Enhanced nutrition. …
  2. Light therapy (phototherapy). …
  3. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). …
  4. Exchange transfusion.

Can Mother eat non veg if baby have jaundice?

Hello mom,it is absolutely fine if you will take egg and nonveg. … mom should eat a proper balanced diet even who they are nonveg may have nonveg during the period of jaundice of baby..it doesnot even effect baby.. becuse baby will have breastmilk only,because breast milk have its own formulation.

How long does hyperbilirubinemia last?

This helps to get rid of bilirubin. Jaundice usually clears up within 2 weeks in formula-fed babies. It may last for more than 2 to 3 weeks in breastfed babies. If your baby’s jaundice lasts more than 3 weeks, talk to his health care provider.

Can bilirubin go up and down in newborns?

Often, a baby’s bilirubin level goes up for the first 3 to 4 days and then slowly goes back down. A baby who is breastfed may have mild jaundice for a longer time than a baby who is fed formula. Jaundice isn’t a serious problem in most healthy babies.

When does kernicterus occur?

In most cases, the syndrome characteristic of kernicterus develops by three to four years of age.

Can bilirubin go up after phototherapy?

It is not unusual for babies to still appear jaundiced for a period of time after phototherapy is completed. Bilirubin levels may rise again 18 to 24 hours after stopping phototherapy. Although rare, this requires follow-up for those who may need more treatment.

When does hyperbilirubinemia occur?

The word for having too much bilirubin in the blood is hyperbilirubinemia (say “hy-per-bil-ih-roo-bih-NEE-mee-uh”). Jaundice usually appears in the first 5 days of life. Many babies have left the hospital by the time jaundice starts. So your doctor may want to do a follow-up exam when your baby is 3 to 5 days old.

Which complications of hemolytic disease of newborn appear during pregnancy?

Complications of HDN can be mild or severe. During pregnancy, your baby may have the following: Mild anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and jaundice.

What causes unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia?

Hyperbilirubinemia in children is usually unconjugated and most often caused by problems with red blood cell stability and survival or by defects in the bilirubin-conjugating enzyme, UGT. In contrast, disorders that result in conjugated hyperbilirubinemia are usually caused by intrinsic liver dysfunction.

Can jaundice cause brain damage in newborns?

When severe jaundice goes untreated for too long, it can cause brain damage and a condition called kernicterus. Early diagnosis and treatment of jaundice can prevent kernicterus. If you’re concerned that your baby might have jaundice visit your baby’s doctor right away.

Can jaundice be fatal in newborns?

Bilirubin, which causes jaundice, is a natural by-product of decomposing red blood cells, but when it’s present at dangerous levels, it can cause severe brain damage or even death in an infant.

Is biliary atresia congenital?

Biliary atresia is a blockage in the tubes (ducts) that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. This congenital condition occurs when the bile ducts inside or outside the liver do not develop normally.

What should Mother eat when baby has jaundice?

  • Water. Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to help the liver recover from jaundice. …
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables. …
  • Coffee and herbal tea. …
  • Whole grains. …
  • Nuts and legumes. …
  • Lean proteins.

How long does jaundice last in a newborn?

Jaundice usually appears about 3 days after birth and disappears by the time the baby is 2 weeks old. In premature babies, who are more prone to jaundice, it can take 5 to 7 days to appear and usually lasts about 3 weeks. It also tends to last longer in babies who are breastfed, affecting some babies for a few months.

What color is bilirubin poop?

Stool Colors The brown color is mainly due to bilirubin, which is in the bile your gallbladder secretes. As bilirubin is digested, it becomes brown. There are various shades of brown stool may be, from light yellow-brown to dark brown.

Is sunlight good for babies with jaundice?

Sunlight has been shown to break down the bilirubin most effectively; in fact, one hour of sunlight equals 6 hours under the special bilirubin lights at the hospital. To sunbathe the baby, put him in a bassinet or on a blanket near a window with sun or indirect light (even on a cloudy day).

Can you bathe a baby with jaundice?

Traditional Treatment Bathing the baby in kunyit water is definitely not recommended because the skin becomes more yellow in colour, therefore making it difficult to assess the true jaundice level from looking at the skin.

Can I eat egg in jaundice?

Many patients in our clinic ask us if they can consume eggs, since it is a widespread belief that people with a liver disease cannot eat them and even that they are harmful in healthy people. This is not true. Surely, the bad reputation of this food comes from its high cholesterol content.