title: Neonatal jaundice.
abstract: Neonatal jaundice lasting greater than 2 weeks should be investigated. Pale stools and dark or yellow urine are evidence of liver disease, which should be urgently investigated. The neonatal hepatitis syndrome has many causes, and a structured approach to investigation is mandatory. It should be possible to confirm or exclude biliary atresia within one week, so that definitive surgery is not delayed unnecessarily. Babies with the neonatal hepatitis syndrome should have vigorous fat-soluble vitamin supplementation, including parenteral vitamin K if coagulation is abnormal. The prognosis for infants with idiopathic neonatal hepatitis and multifactorial cholestasis is excellent.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Birmingham Children's Hospital, West Midlands, United Kingdom. Pat.Mckiernan@bch.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McKiernan
mesh_terms: D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000175:diagnosis; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000032:analysis; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003938:Diagnostic Techniques, Digestive System; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology; D013577:Syndrome; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D014815:Vitamins; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D001663:Bilirubin