Bilirubin Range For Newborns

The indirect bilirubin level in the bloodstream is the total bilirubin minus the direct bilirubin levels in the bloodstream.

Bilirubin range for newborns. Infant jaundice usually occurs because a baby s liver isn t mature. Newborn jaundice is a yellowing of a baby s skin and eyes. Bilirubin levels in newborns. The treatment is usually done in a hospital.

Medical literature sources have minor variations in normal levels. When jaundice is left untreated and serum bilirubin levels exceed 25 milligrams there is a risk of brain damage cerebral palsy and deafness. Infant jaundice is a common condition particularly in babies born before 38 weeks gestation preterm babies and some breast fed babies. Bilirubin can be described as the yellowish substance that is produced by the liver when old cells are broken down.

However at times it is possible for the amount of bilirubin in the body to rise to a very high level which in turn can lead to serious health complications. Hyperbilirubinemia excess bilirubin in the blood is an extremely common problem occurring during the newborn period. Kidshealth notes that high serum bilirubin levels indicate newborn jaundice which has symptoms that include the yellowing of eyes and skin difficulty feeding and excessive sleepiness. Total bilirubin direct and indirect range from about 0 2 to 1 2 mg dl some lab values range as high as 1 9 mg dl.

Although most causes are benign each case must be investigated to rule out an etiology with significant morbidity. Additionally normal reference ranges may vary from lab to lab. A common condition it can occur when babies have a high level of bilirubin a yellow pigment produced during the breakdown of red. In case the levels of bilirubin in the body are within the normal range it does not create a problem.

The skin absorbs the light which changes the bilirubin so that the body can more easily get rid of it. It s estimated that 60 of full term and 80 of premature babies develop jaundice hyperbilirubinaemia in the first week after birth. Your baby will need treatment if the bilirubin level is above the normal range for newborns. This is called phototherapy.

Bilirubin levels can cause concern for parents whose newborns are suspected to have jaundice. Normal values of direct bilirubin range from 0 to 0 4 mg dl. He or she will be put under a type of fluorescent light to treat the jaundice. Newborns with high levels of bilirubin have a condition that doctors call.

The cause of the jaundice is quite varied. The approximate normal range of bilirubin in the blood serum is.