Title

Neonatal Jaundice in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Lessons and Future Directions from the 2015 Don Ostrow Trieste Yellow Retreat.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2016

Identifier

DOI: 10.1159/000445708

Abstract

Severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, defined as total serum bilirubin (TSB) ≥20 mg/dl, is associated with a higher risk of permanent neurological sequelae and death. Jaundice can and should be promptly diagnosed and treated. Reliable methods for TSB assay are not always readily available, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, making the true incidence of severe neonatal jaundice (NNJ) difficult to estimate. To gather a more comprehensive picture, a symposium addressing NNJ worldwide was organized during the 2015 Don Ostrow Trieste Yellow Retreat. Data collected by several researchers in different regions of the world were presented and differences/similarities discussed. This report points out the need for: (1) a coordinated worldwide effort to define the burden and the causes of severe NNJ and its consequences; (2) aggressive educational programs for families and health personnel to facilitate timely care-seeking, and (3) accurate diagnostics and effective phototherapy.

Journal Title

Neonatology

Volume

110

Issue

3

First Page

172

Last Page

180

MeSH Keywords

Bilirubin; Congresses as Topic; Developing Countries; Health Personnel; Humans; Incidence; Infant, Newborn; Jaundice, Neonatal; Phototherapy

Keywords

Bilirubin; Congresses as Topic; Developing Countries; Health Personnel; Humans; Incidence; Infant, Newborn; Jaundice, Neonatal; Phototherapy

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