Jaundice in Babies When to Worry? | Jaundice Newborn

Symptoms of neonatal jaundice

The distinctive newborn yellowish discoloration of the skin and the eyes isn’t the only symptoms of newborn jaundice. Other symptoms include:

• Changes of stool or urine color. These changes can be mild or unnoticeable, but can also become pronounced especially in pathologic jaundice, where the urine becomes darker and the stools lighter
• Neurologic symptoms: When bilirubin increases in level, it can cross to the brain, damaging the nervous system. This condition is known as kernicterus. Symptoms of kernicterus include drowsiness, seizures, changes of posture and muscle tone, and up to coma.
• Symptoms of the original pathologic conditions: Other symptoms of the main condition can be present as well including liver and spleen enlargement in cases of intrauterine infection or fever in case of sepsis. These symptoms can be the only clue to differentiate between pathologic and physiologic jaundice.