Diagnosing Jaundice by Eye-Outpatient Assessment of Conjunctival Icterus in the Newborn

J Pediatr. 2016 May:172:212-214.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.01.032. Epub 2016 Feb 18.

Abstract

In pediatric office practices, we compared transcutaneous bilirubin levels in 689 newborns, age 3-10 days, with and without conjunctival icterus. In this age range, and in the absence of other clinical or laboratory indications, the presence of conjunctival icterus does not imply the need to measure the transcutaneous bilirubin or serum bilirubin level, but the absence of conjunctival icterus helps to rule out significant hyperbilirubinemia.

MeSH terms

  • Bilirubin / blood
  • Conjunctival Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Hyperbilirubinemia / blood
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Jaundice, Neonatal / blood
  • Jaundice, Neonatal / diagnosis*
  • Outpatients

Substances

  • Bilirubin