Phototherapy uses fluorescent lights, sometimes called bili lights, to reduce the levels of bilirubin in an infant's body. Bilirubin is the yellow pigment in the blood that develops when old blood cells break down, states University of Maryland...
Jaundice refers to the yellowing of skin and the whites of your eyes that occurs when your liver cannot rid the body of a yellow pigment called bilirubin. Jaundice is common in newborns, whose livers are not completely mature. This type of...
Most mothers-to-be know that drinking alcohol during pregnancy puts babies at risk for developmental concerns, but did you know it can also increase the risk of hypocalcemia? Neonatal or early hypocalcemia--a condition in which your infant's...
A poorly functioning liver causes bilirubin, a toxin caused by the recycling of old blood cells, to build up in the blood. A buildup of bilirubin can be related to certain illnesses, and babies can suffer from the effects of the toxin mainly...
Phototherapy is an essential option for adults in the treatment of certain skin diseases such as psoriasis, a chronic, non-communicable disease known for its reddish, inflamed lesions with silvery, or sometimes whitish, scales of dead skin....
Jaundice is common in newborns--it typically begins on the second or third day of life, and goes away after one to two weeks. However, some children experience persistent jaundice, which can damage the liver and other organs. For these children,...
Newborn jaundice is a common condition that usually occurs in the first two weeks of life. This condition is characterized by a yellowing of the skin and eyes. Your baby begins to appear yellow because bilirubin, a yellow pigmented substance,...
The telltale sign of newborn jaundice is a yellowish tint to your baby's skin and eyes. This scary sight occurs when there's too much bilirubin in the baby's system. Bilirubin is the product of red blood cells that break down. It should pass...
Some infants are afflicted with a condition known a neonatal jaundice, which is the result of the newly formed liver not being completely functional. This leads to the buildup of a protein called bilirubin in the blood, which turns the skin and...
Hyperbilirubinemia is a condition in which there is too much bilirubin in the blood. Most bilirubin comes from the normal breakdown of old red blood cells. Babies are not easily able to get rid of the bilirubin and it can build up in the blood,...
Some of your newborn's red blood cells retire and are processed in your child's liver every day. The process creates bilirubin, a byproduct your newborn's liver typically flushes from her body through her stools. Liver underdevelopment, damage...
Jaundice is a condition marked by high levels of bilirubin in the blood. The increased bilirubin will cause an infant's skin, along with the whites of their eyes, to appear yellow. Several types of jaundice can cause brain and central nervous...
Phototherapy is a medical procedure in which the skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light in an effort to treat specific skin conditions. If you have psoriasis, eczema or other skin diseases, your doctor may recommend treatment with phototherapy....
Quite often after delivery, newborn babies have yellow-looking skin. This yellow discoloration, known as neonatal jaundice, is one of the most common conditions in newborns, and requires evaluation and treatment by medical professionals, according...
Bilirubin is produced during the process of red blood cell breakdown. This is a normal process that allows the body to get rid of old and damaged red blood cells. In order to remove bilirubin from the body, it must be broken down by the liver....
Medline Plus defines infant jaundice as a condition marked by high blood levels of bilirubin that cause the skin and whites of the eyes to look yellow. Bilirubin, created by the body when recycling old red blood cells, is a yellow-colored...
Hyperbilirubinemia is the medical term for a high bilirubin level in the bloodstream and the cause of jaundice. A newborn with jaundice will have skin that looks yellow and a yellowish look to the white part of the eyes. There are actually four...
The skin is the largest organ in the body and is easily affected by light. Most people know that exposure to sunlight can give them a tan, but light can also be used as a method of therapy. This kind of treatment, known as phototherapy, uses...
Newborns have tremendous adjustments to make following delivery. Each body system is forced to function on its own after the umbilical cord is cut. Jaundice occurs to some degree in many newborns because the liver hurries to assume its role in...
As your newborn baby gets used to the outside world, his body will undergo many changes and experience a variety of reactions to new situations. Even the smallest problem can cause anxiety in a new parent. Fortunately, many conditions are common...
Breastfeeding is considered to be one of the best things a mother can do to ensure her newborn's optimal health. Despite this official stance of the U.S. Surgeon General and other health experts, in 2010, less than 50 percent of mothers breast fed...
Vitamin B2, or riboflavin, is one of the B-complex vitamins important for numerous vital functions in your body. Riboflavin deficiency is uncommon because so many foods are good sources for the vitamin. Health benefits of riboflavin include...
The newborn liver carries out the same function that it does in adults -- breaking down medicine, toxins and bilirubin, forming the proteins of blood, and storing energy. However, the newborn liver is prone to additional stresses that are less...
Yellow skin -- also referred to as jaundice -- is the result of too much bilirubin. According to the National Institutes of Health, bilirubin is a yellow chemical found in hemoglobin -- the substance responsible for carrying oxygen to your red...
Yellowing of the scalp for infants can be caused by jaundice or cradle cap. Although they both cause yellowing and are common for infants, the conditions have different physical appearances, so most parents will have no problems distinguishing...
Premature infants, also known as "preemies," refers to babies born prior to 37 weeks gestation, says MedlinePlus. Babies that are born too early do not have well-developed organs and can present with such symptoms as poor feeding, body hair, a...
Bringing home an infant is an exciting time for new parents. Although as parents you always want your baby to be healthy and happy, there are a number of skin problems your infant may experience. Most infant skin problems are not life-threatening...
Pyruvate kinase deficiency is a rare hereditary disease. It's also a hemolytic anemia, because the red blood cells break apart and cause anemia in those with this disorder. The broken red blood cells release high amounts of hemoglobin into the...
Bilirubin forms from the breakdown of red blood cells. High levels of bilirubin in the blood, or hyperbilirubinemia, also called jaundice, can occur in newborns and adults. Bilirubin can be unconjugated, which means it hasn't passed through the...
