Jaundice is a
yellowish discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes and of the white of the
eyes caused by elevated levels of the chemical bilirubin in the blood
(hyperbilirubinemia). Jaundice is not a disease, but rather a visible
sign of an underlying disease process. A yellow pigment produced during normal
breakdown of red blood cells. Most infants born between 35 weeks' gestation and
full term need no treatment for jaundice. Rarely, an unusually high blood level
of bilirubin can place a newborn at risk of brain damage, particularly in the
presence of certain risk factors for severe jaundice.
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