Introduction
Neonatal Jaundice (NNJ) or neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia is one of the most common medical conditions in newborn babies. All babies have a transient rise in serum bilirubin but only about 75% are visibly jaundiced. Jaundice is clinically detectable when the serum bilirubin levels are >85 μmol/L (5 mg/dl). NNJ is more common among Asian babies and varies with races. There are also other risk factors that may be associated with severe jaundice including prematurity, G6PD deficiency and ABO incompatibility. Due to improving survival rates of preterm babies, and better identification of risk factors over the years, there is a need to address the management of jaundice in this group of babies.
Hyperbilirubinaemia is either unconjugated or conjugated. Without treatment, high levels of unconjugated bilirubin may lead to acute and chronic bilirubin encephalopathy. This may cause to neurodevelopmental problems including athetoid cerebral palsy, hearing loss and visual impairment.
The CPG on the Management of Jaundice in Healthy Term Newborns was developed in 2003 as a guide to clinical practice, based on the best available evidence at that time. Since then, novel techniques in the assessment of NNJ, different modalities of treatment and newer concepts of prevention have been introduced. Based on recent evidence,
this CPG aims to assist healthcare providers in clinical decision-making and to provide a standard framework for the management of NNJ in the country.
download the Full Guideline and the Quick Reference below…