Neonatal jaundice refers to the discolouration of the skin and sclera resulting from an accumulation of bilirubin in the skin and mucosa. This is due to raised bilirubin in the body, known as hyperbilirubinaemia. Kernicterus is the pathological term to describe the yellow staining of the basal nuclei of the brain due to the acute and chronic effects of hyperbilirunaemia – it is very rare but usually fatal.
Associated morbidity, such as hearing loss and cerebral palsy, is very high.