Question

maternal health

Hyperbilirubinemia Explain hyperbilirubinemia in a neonate is and what risk factors put a baby at risk. What are priority nursing cares for this diagnosis?

Answer 1

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is infant jaundice , condition where there is yellowish discoloration of white part of eyes and skin due to high serum bilirubin level ie above 5mg / dL. It typically results from deposition of conjugated bilirubin pigment in skin's and mucus membrane.

Symptoms - yellow skin, yellow sclera, sleepiness or drowsiness, poor feeding, discoloured urine, fever, high pitch cry,pale stools

RISK FACTORS

Maternal factors -  

• Blood type / Rh incompatibility
• Maternal illness like gestational diabetes
• use of drugs like diazepam, pitocin

Neonatal factors -

• birth trauma like cephalohematoma, bruising, instrumented delivery
• excessive weigh loss after birth
• TORCH infection
• infrequent feedings
• polycythemia
• prematurity

DIAGNOSIS

• examination of infant in well lit room and blanching skin with digital pressure to know skin color change.
• checking with bilirubinometer
• testing total bilirubin level
• assess pallor, weight loss, evidence of dehydration, petechiae.

Treatment - mild jaundice goes away within 2 weeks, phototherapy, exposure to sunlight when baby is undressed, giving enough breast milk.