Signs of Jaundice in Babies

Jaundice is a condition in which the skin, the eyes and the mucous membranes get yellow in color because of high levels of a yellow-orange bile pigment, bilirubin.

This term is used to describe a yellowish tinge to the skin and the whites of the eye. Body fluids can also be yellow. Jaundice can also cause color changes to bodily fluids, such as pale stools and dark urine.

Bilirubin is a waste material found in the blood. Moderate levels lead to a yellow color, while very high levels will appear brown. It is this buildup of bilirubin, a waste material, in the blood that causes Jaundice.

An inflamed liver or obstructed bile duct can cause this. 

Some signs and symptoms include:

1. Gently press on your baby's forehead with one finger. If the pressed area looks yellow, your baby may have jaundice. 

2. Normal infant urine is light yellow or colorless.

3. Normal stool is yellowish-green in bottle-fed babies.

When to see a doctor

It is important that your baby should be examined / checked for jaundice between the 3rd and 7th day after birth. This is the time when bilirubin levels usually go up. 

Also, if your newborn is discharged earlier than 72 hours after birth, get a check for jaundice within two days of discharge.

Watch this as Pediatrician Dr. Manoj Yadav talks of signs and symptoms that indicated Jaundice and how you should go about it. 

You may also like to watch this video with Pediatrician Dr. Manoj Yadav on child's health .