Jaundice - aa

Question 1

Total bilirubin above ____ means it’s not physiologic jaundice and you need to investigate further.

Answer 1

above 15 mg/dL

Question 2

When does physiologic jaundice appear and when does it go away?

Answer 2

Appears at 24 hours after birth and is gone by 1 week of life (2 weeks if preterm infant)

Question 3

Visible jaundice with total serum bilirubin above 5 mg/dL BEFORE 24 hrs of age usually means what?

Answer 3

significant hemolysis, e.g. Rh incompatibility, spherocytosis, G6PD deficiency

Question 4

Name 5 causes of nonhemolytic unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

Answer 4

1. enclosed hemorrhage, e.g. cephalohematoma
2. polycythemia
3. bowel obstruction
4. UDPGT deficiency (enzyme that conjugates bilirubin)
5. Gilbert syndrome

Question 5

What are the treatments for unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia?

Answer 5

1. phototherapy with blue-green light

2. exchange transfusion (for severe)