Jaundice in Neonates

Date Published: May 2010
State: Published

Full guideline

Guidance produced by NCC-WCH for healthcare professionals on Neonatal Jaundice is now available from the above link.

Jaundice is one of the most common conditions requiring medical attention in newborn babies. Approximately 60% of term and 80% of preterm babies develop jaundice in the 1st week of life.  About 10% of breast-fed babies are still jaundiced at 1 month of age. In most infants with jaundice there is no underlying disease, and this early jaundice (termed ‘physiological jaundice’) is generally harmless.

The guideline covers:

  • Identification of factors that increase the risk of kernicterus in a baby with jaundice
  • Recognition and management in primary care (includes community care)
  • Recognition and management in secondary care
  • Treatment of hyperbilirubinaemia
  • Information and support that should be given to parents and carers

The guideline development group has also produced two additional tools to facilitate implementation of the guideline throughout the NHS:

Interactive treatment threshold graphs to help health care professionals manage hyperbilirubinaemia in neonates

A parent information factsheet to help parents and carers recognize jaundice and make informed choices about their baby’s care

 

Guidelines International Network 2010 poster presentations

Neonatal Jaundice BiliWheel Poster

Neonatal Jaundice Parent Information Factsheet Poster

 

For more information about the Neonatal Jaundice guideline, please go to the NICE website.

If you would like to contact us, please email us at enquiries@ncc-wch.org.uk.