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