Bilirubin: What To Think About

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What To Think About

• A common cause of jaundice in newborns is a condition called physiologic jaundice. It occurs in healthy babies when they are 1 to 3 days old for several reasons, including the increased breakdown of red blood cells right after birth. It usually disappears on its own within a week without causing problems. However, in some cases, a baby with physiologic jaundice may need treatment with special lights (phototherapy) to prevent serious problems.
• Bilirubin can be measured in amniotic fluid if your doctor thinks that your unborn baby may have a condition that destroys red blood cells (erythroblastosis fetalis). For more information, see the medical test Amniocentesis.
• Bilirubin may also be measured in the urine. Normally urine does not contain any bilirubin. If bilirubin is detected in urine, additional testing may be needed to determine the cause. High amounts of bilirubin in urine may indicate that the bilirubin is not being removed from the body by the liver.
• Using a transcutaneous bilirubin test, doctors can screen all newborns for jaundice. They place a device gently against the skin to check bilirubin levels before a baby goes home from the hospital.

Last updated:	May 27, 2008
Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer