Jaundice appearing in the first 24 hours of life is pathologic until proven otherwise, and there is no exception to it. Triage a real bilirubin against that rule, the rate of rise and the direct fraction with every line of arithmetic on screen; separate the two feeding jaundices that are managed oppositely; follow one newborn as the findings escalate; and sort the phototherapy actions that keep the treatment safe.
Work the bilirubin
Jaundice becomes visible at roughly 5 to 7 mg/dL and progresses cephalocaudally — face, then trunk, then extremities, with palms and soles last. Visual estimation is unreliable, especially in infants with darker skin: blanch the skin over the sternum or check the sclerae and gums, then get a number.
Case 1 of 4
Named correctly0 of 0
Hour 14
Right next action0 of 0
Action 1 of 12
Sorted correctly0 of 0
Triage the bilirubinOnset, rate of rise, direct fraction
Waiting
Enter the values on the left.
Two feeding jaundicesThey look similar and are managed oppositely
Name each pattern on the left. Every answer is explained.
Baby Okafor, 14 hours oldBorn to a parent with type O blood
Choose the next action on the left. The findings escalate as the hours pass.
Phototherapy benchBlue light at 460 to 490 nm converts bilirubin into water-soluble isomers
Sort each action on the left. Every answer is explained.