Word parts
What it means
Bilirubin is the yellow substance that causes jaundiceJAWN-disYellow color of the skin, the whites of the eyes and other tissues from too much bilirubin in the blood.Full entry . If its level in a newborn's blood climbs very high and is not treated, it can cross into the brain and damage areas that control movement, hearing and eye movement. Children who survive may have cerebral palsy, hearing loss and intellectual disability. Treating high bilirubin early with phototherapy, or exchange transfusion if needed, prevents it.
For the nurse
Check every newborn for jaundice, which spreads from the head down, and check bilirubin levels as ordered. Report jaundice in the first 24 hours of life or a rapidly rising level. Report poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, a high-pitched cry or arching of the back at once.
At a glance
| Spanish | kernícterus |
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Related terms
jaundice
Yellow color of the skin, the whites of the eyes and other tissues from too much bilirubin in the blood.