Common terms - J
Jaundice
The human body makes new blood all the time to replace old blood. One of the
products of this process is bilirubin, which comes from the breakdown of old blood cells. Normally, bilirubin is
broken down by the liver and eliminated by the gut. In new or preterm babies
the liver cannot work fast enough to clear the bilirubin and so it builds up.
This results in a yellow colour to the skin and also to the white of the eyes. Very
high levels of jaundice can be harmful but can be easily monitored by means of
a blood test. Treatment for jaundice is usually with phototherapy but sometimes
other therapies are used.
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