Management of pathological Jaundice
Confirmatory serum bilirubin level assessment is recommended for infants when they are noted to have yellow skin color outside of the thighs. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has laid down criteria for managing babies with bilirubin in the pathological range. Jaundice appearing within 24 h should be managed as hemolytic jaundice. The following investigations for all infants with bilirubin levels in the range of phototherapy including: baby’s blood group, Rh typing and DCT (if Rh factor is absent in mother or mother has O blood group); packed cell volume (PCV); peripheral blood smear (PBS) for checking hemolysis and morphology of red blood cell; reticulocyte count and G6PD estimation (if indicated) (61). Any hemolytic cause of jaundice is done by these assessments. An inability to see a decrease in bilirubin level to 1–2 mg/dL after 4–6 h and/or to keep the bilirubin below the exchange transfusion level has been defined as failure of phototherapy. However, irrespective of the bilirubin level, an exchange transfusion (ET) may be performed at the smallest doubt about bilirubin encephalopathy