Better Health Channel
betterhealth.vic.gov.au Department of Health
betterhealth.vic.gov.au Department of Health
  • Jaundice shows up in babies as a yellowish tinge to the skin and eyes.
  • Jaundice is very common in newborn babies – about six out of 10 newborns have jaundice to varying degrees.
  • Jaundice is caused by an excess of a chemical called bilirubin.
  • Most jaundice is ‘physiological jaundice.
  • Physiological jaundice will resolve by itself once the baby's liver is functioning at full speed.
  • In babies where jaundice levels are very high in the days after birth, treatment using blue lights (phototherapy) may be required.
  • Other less common causes of jaundice include blood group differences between mother and baby, haemolytic anaemia, hepatitis and galactosaemia.

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Reviewed on: 21-07-2019