Melanie Shoemaker

10/29/16

NUR 176

Hyperbilirubinemia

Hyperbilirubinemia is a condition that occurs when there is too much bilirubin in the blood.

When red blood cells break down, a substance called bilirubin is produced. Infants cannot

easily get rid of the bilirubin which can cause it to build up in their blood and other tissues and

fluids. Bilirubin has a yellow coloring to it, which causes a yellowing of an infant’s skin, eyes, and

other tissues. Depending on the cause of the hyperbilirubinemia, the yellowing or jaundice may

appear at birth or at any time afterward. (1)

Every infant may experience symptoms differently. Some of the most common signs of

hyperbilirubinemia are yellowing of the skin and eyes; usually beginning at the face and moving

down the body. (1) Another common symptom is poor feeding or lethargy, which is a lack of

energy. Some common risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia are excessive weight loss after birth,

infections, infrequent feedings, prematurity, previous siblings with hyperbilirubinemia, birth

trauma, and certain drugs such as receiving Prediazole. (2)

Treatment options vary depending on an infant’s gestational age, overall health, and medical

history, tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies. Common treatment

options include phototherapy and fiberoptic blankets, which helps decrease bilirubin levels by

exposing an infant to special blue spectrum lights because, bilirubin absorbs light. A blood

transfusion is also a common treatment option, exchange of blood helps increase an infant’s

red blood cell count and lowers the levels of bilirubin. Another treatment option is, adequate
hydration with breastfeeding or pumped breast milk to help ensure adequate fluid and

nutrition intake for infants experiencing excessive weight loss or infants receiving

phototherapy. (1)
 Work Cited
1. Default - Stanford Children's Health. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2016, from
http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=hyperbilirubinemia-and-jaundice-90-
P02375
2. MEREDITH L. PORTER, CPT, MC, USA, and BETH L. DENNIS, MAJ, MC, USA, Dewitt
Army Community Hospital, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. (n.d.). Hyperbilirubinemia in the Term
Newborn. Retrieved October 29, 2016, from http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0215/p599.html