Evaluation of Neonatal Jaundice and its Management, Review Article

Among the most prevalent medical problems is hyperbilirubinemia. Newborn hyperbilirubinemia is a prevalent clinical issue in the newborn era, particularly in the first week of life. Hyperbilirubinemia affects 8% to 11% of newborns. The yellowing of a newborn's skin and sclera brought on by bilirubin is known as neonatal jaundice. Normal neonatal jaundice is benign and self-limiting; however, kernicterus, a condition where there is permanent damage to the brain due to abnormally high bilirubin levels, can occur. As a result, it is critical to correctly detect and treat newborn jaundice. This study aimed to provide an overview of jaundice, its types, and etiology, as well as to review various preventive precautions for parents of newborns with hyperbilirubinemia and therapeutic methods. The following keywords were employed in the mesh (("neonatal jaundice"[Mesh]) AND ("hyperbilirubinemia"[Mesh]) OR ("phototherapy"[Mesh])) when selecting articles from the PubMed database. For patients with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, exchange transfusion and phototherapy are the cornerstones of treatment. Phototherapy continues to be the initial therapy for pathological unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. The treatment of conjugated hyperbilirubinemia is customized to the underlying cause. Regarding prevention, exclusive breastfeeding is suggested throughout the first 6 months of life because exclusively breastfed neonates had the lowest rate of mortality.