Did you know that almost 60 percent of all newborn babies develop jaundice?

Jaundice is one of the common symptoms to watch out for after giving birth to an infant. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines neonatal jaundice as the yellowish discoloration seen in the skin of neonates or newborn babies. Jaundice can also be noticed on the white portion (sclera) of the eye, and the yellow color usually starts from the face and spreads in the baby’s body through a downward direction. The discoloration peaks at around 3 to 5 days after birth.

Jaundice is not a disease but is a manifestation of a condition called hyperbilirubinemia. If left untreated, this condition can lead to a serious complication in the brain termed kernicterus, which can further lead to debilitating effects in the baby’s visual, auditory and intellectual development.