Newborn jaundice, also referred to as neonatal jaundice, refers to yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice) in a newborn infant. It is a very common condition in newborns and is not a disease itself.

A variety of other medical conditions can cause severe neonatal jaundice. Medical professionals must carefully monitor jaundice in a newborn because if bilirubin levels rise too high without treatment, that can lead to brain damage, known as kernicterus. Signs and symptoms sometimes associated with neonatal jaundice include

fussiness,
fever, and an
ill appearance.

Cause of newborn jaundice

An excess of the pigment bilirubin in a newborn's blood causes newborn jaundice. Newborn jaundice is most frequently a result of the newborn's immature liver.