Updates to NICE guidance on jaundice in newborns

NICE have updated their guidelines in regards to diagnosing and treating jaundice in newborns under 28 days.

Jaundice, which presents as a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, occurs when babies produce large amount of a pigment, called bilirubin. It is very common, and usually harmless to newborns, often resolving itself after 10-14 days. However, in some cases, it can be more severe and harmful if not treated.

The revised guidelines, released in May 2016, involved adjustments in measuring and monitoring of the pigment levels, as well as the type of phototherapy (when a baby is placed under a special light) used to treat it.

Read more on the NICE guidelines, here.