Jaundice in new born babies common: Expert

• Says that jaundice could be found in 60 per cent of new born babies and 80 per cent of the premature born babies with the symptoms of yellow eyes and skin which is called physiological jaundice

Vijayawada: Noted neonatologist Dr V Vamsi Sivama Raju said that Jaundice is common among neonatal babies and would turn fatal only in some cases.

Addressing the health education programme at Vasavya Nursing Home here on Saturday with Dr Samaram in the chair, Dr Raju said that jaundice could be found in 60 per cent of new born babies and 80 per cent of the premature born babies with the symptoms of yellow eyes and skin which is called physiological jaundice.

No treatment would be necessary for physiological jaundice which would subside in 10 days, he added.

Another variety of jaundice is called pathological jaundice which occurs in a small percentage of new born babies, he stated and added the affected baby would be sleepy and would not drink breast milk properly.

“Bilirubin percentage in blood of new born baby affected by physiological jaundice would be very low whereas it would be very high in babies affected by pathological jaundice,” he pointed out.

The red blood cells would perish in pathological jaundice-affected babies due to enzyme deficiency, he said.

Generally pathological jaundice was found among the new babies born with infection or with blood-related diseases or liver diseases, he added.

New babies with physiological jaundice are very active and healthy in spite of yellow eyes and skin, he said and added that they do not need any treatment.

The mother would easily identify the jaundice in the new born babies within hours of birth and they should be taken to doctor immediately.