Diagnosis
Jaundice

Jaundice is caused when:

  • too much bilirubin is produced for the liver to remove
  • the liver is defective and cannot remove bilirubin from the blood, process it, or secrete it in bile
  • there is a blockage in the bile ducts

To diagnose your condition, your doctor will perform a physical examination. Depending upon what the exam reveals, various tests may be ordered to determine the cause of your jaundice. Liver function tests are typically performed to ensure that your liver is working properly. 

 

Jaundice in Newborns

Babies may develop jaundice for other reasons:

  • severe bruising during birth
  • infection in baby’s blood (sepsis)
  • incompatibility between your blood and the baby’s

To diagnose if your newborn has jaundice, clinicians will measure the baby’s bilirubin level. This can be done one of two ways. It may be measured by taking a tiny blood sample from the baby’s heel and sending the sample to a laboratory for analysis, or it may be done by placing a hand-held analyzer, Respironics' BiliCheck® Bilirubin Monitor, which uses light reflection to measure bilirubin levels, on the baby’s forehead.





† Top Of Page