But diagnosis of the underlying causes of pathological jaundice can be difficult. Bilirubin rarely goes above 5 mg/dL per day. If it goes to 10 to 12 mg/dL in the first day, then it is pathological jaundice. This jaundice appears in the first 2 to 3 days. This results from the insufficient hepatocyte enzyme and so unconjugated bilirubin is increased. A bilirubin test is often required if it's thought a baby has jaundice. Physiologic jaundice: This is the benign type of jaundice. Some causes of pathological jaundice include: breast feeding, hyprothroidism, blood group incompatibility, rhesus factor disease, infection, Crigler-Najjar syndrome, Hirschsprung disease, G6PD deficiency, congenital choledochocyst, and biliary atresia. When jaundice is persistent (pathological jaundice), it may indicate underlying health conditions that need to be treated. Jaundice often corrects itself by the time a baby is around 2 weeks old when the body produces less bilirubin and the liver is more effective at removing it from the body. Jaundice therefore occurs in most of newborn babies. It is important to measure the bilirubin level for all babies who are visibly jaundiced. Pathological jaundice may also be sometimes accompanied by dark urine in babies. Investigations Measuring the bilirubin level. Pathological jaundice: This type of jaundice occurs within the first 24 hours after birth and is characterized by peaking bilirubin levels higher than the normal range and lasting for more than two weeks. Establish a useful feeding pattern whether by bottle or breast that enhances regular bowel movement. A caregiver should prepare a care plan that helps the neonate to recover and live a healthy lifestyle by achieving these outcomes at the end of the care period.

Their livers are less effective in removing it from the blood. Jaundice in the first 24 hours of life and conjugated jaundice are always pathological and require urgent investigation for an underlying cause. Neonatal Jaundice Care Plan Goals and Outcomes.

Generally, the physiological jaundice is the most prevalent type however in some regions pathological jaundice is also common.

It is a multifactorial disorder with many symptoms. Newborn babies have a high number of red blood cells that are broken down and replaced frequently. Hyperbilirubinemia, or jaundice, is a life threatening disorder in newborns. After being processed in the liver, bilirubin is passed out of body in poo. Jaundice is caused by too much bilirubin, a breakdown product of red blood cells.