Newborn Jaundice (Yarqan): When Is It Dangerous?
Yellow skin in a newborn worries every parent. Most jaundice is harmless and settles by itself, but a few cases can become dangerous if untreated. This guide explains how to tell the difference.
What Is Newborn Jaundice?
Jaundice is yellow colouring of the skin and eyes caused by bilirubin building up in the blood. Newborns produce more bilirubin, and their liver is still maturing, so about 6 in 10 babies develop some jaundice.
Normal (Physiological) Jaundice
- Appears on day 2-3
- Peaks around day 3-5
- Fades within 1-2 weeks
- Baby feeds well, is active, and has normal wet nappies
Dangerous Jaundice: Warning Signs
Take your baby to a doctor the same day if:
- Yellow colour appears within the first 24 hours
- Yellow spreads to the belly, legs, palms or soles
- Jaundice lasts more than 2 weeks (3 weeks if premature)
- Baby is sleepy, hard to wake, or feeding poorly
- High-pitched cry, fever, or arching of the back
- Dark urine or pale/white stools
Go to emergency immediately if the baby is very drowsy, limp, or arching the back. Severe untreated jaundice can cause brain damage (kernicterus).
Common Causes
- Normal newborn liver immaturity
- Premature birth
- Blood group incompatibility (ABO or Rh)
- G6PD deficiency
- Infection
- Not enough breast milk intake (breastfeeding jaundice)
- Liver or bile duct problems (if prolonged with pale stools)
How to Check at Home
Check in natural daylight. Press gently on the baby's nose or forehead; if the skin looks yellow when you release, jaundice is present. Yellowing that starts at the face and moves down the body is a sign of rising bilirubin.
How Doctors Diagnose It
A Serum bilirubin blood test (skin meter or blood test) is ordered and compared against the baby's age in hours and risk factors. Colour alone is not a reliable way to judge severity.
Treatment
- Frequent feeding: 8-12 times a day
- Phototherapy: special blue light, the standard treatment
- Exchange transfusion: rare, for very severe cases
- Treating the underlying cause
Common Myths
- "Sunlight cures jaundice." It is not a reliable or safe treatment. Do not delay medical care for it.
- Water, sugar water, or ghutti do not help and can harm the baby. Breast milk or formula is the right treatment.
- "Yellow eyes are always normal." Not if it comes with the warning signs above.
When to See a Doctor
See a paediatrician if you are unsure. It is always safer to get bilirubin checked than to wait.