It s estimated that 60 of full term and 80 of premature babies develop jaundice hyperbilirubinaemia in the first week after birth.
Bilirubin range for newborns.
Additionally normal reference ranges may vary from lab to lab.
Normal values of direct bilirubin range from 0 to 0 4 mg dl.
When jaundice is left untreated and serum bilirubin levels exceed 25 milligrams there is a risk of brain damage cerebral palsy and deafness.
The treatment is usually done in a hospital.
Hyperbilirubinemia excess bilirubin in the blood is an extremely common problem occurring during the newborn period.
However at times it is possible for the amount of bilirubin in the body to rise to a very high level which in turn can lead to serious health complications.
The skin absorbs the light which changes the bilirubin so that the body can more easily get rid of it.
Bilirubin can be described as the yellowish substance that is produced by the liver when old cells are broken down.
Medical literature sources have minor variations in normal levels.
The approximate normal range of bilirubin in the blood serum is.
Your baby will need treatment if the bilirubin level is above the normal range for newborns.
Because the bilirubin has a color it turns babies shin and eyes yellow jaundice.
Total bilirubin direct and indirect range from about 0 2 to 1 2 mg dl some lab values range as high as 1 9 mg dl.
He or she will be put under a type of fluorescent light to treat the jaundice.
1 2 milligrams per deciliter mg dl for adults.
In case the levels of bilirubin in the body are within the normal range it does not create a problem.
This is called phototherapy.
Although most causes are benign each case must be investigated to rule out an etiology with significant morbidity.
The cause of the jaundice is quite varied.
Newborn jaundice is a yellowing of a baby s skin and eyes.
Bilirubin levels in newborns.
The indirect bilirubin level in the bloodstream is the total bilirubin minus the direct bilirubin levels in the bloodstream.
Infant jaundice occurs because the baby s blood contains an excess of bilirubin bil ih roo bin a yellow pigment of red blood cells.
Kidshealth notes that high serum bilirubin levels indicate newborn jaundice which has symptoms that include the yellowing of eyes and skin difficulty feeding and excessive sleepiness.
Infant jaundice usually occurs because a baby s liver isn t mature.
Infant jaundice is a common condition particularly in babies born before 38 weeks gestation preterm babies and some breast fed babies.