The American Academy of Pediatrics has recently updated its 2004 clinical practice guidelines on managing hyperbilirubinemia in newborns of 35 weeks gestation or more. The guidelines focus on monitoring, risk assessment, prevention, and treatment of hyperbilirubinemia to reduce the risk of kernicterus. We cover the summary of these guidelines in two parts. While this part 1 covers the guidelines on the prevention and screening of hyperbilirubinemia, the second part covers the guidelines on the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia and follow-up care.
Prevention of hyperbilirubinemia Identify and treat pregnant women with the risk of developing anti-erythrocyte antibodies, which can cause isoimmune hemolytic disease in newborns. If the anti-erythrocyte antibodies were not screened in mothers during pregnancy, evaluate them shortly after delivery. The blood type of newborns should be…
