The Subcommittee forward Hyperbilir...

The Subcommittee forward Hyperbilirubinemia of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated its clinical practice guideline upon identifying and managing jaundice in newborns. "Management of Hyperbilirubinemia in the Newborn Infant 35 or More Weeks of Gestation" appears in the July 2004 issue of Pediatrics and is available online at http:// pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/ full/114/1/297

The AAP updated its guideline to provide physicians with specific advice about treatment and to forward greater uniformity and consistency of care for all newborns. Among the just discovered recommendations are the following:

* Physicians should perform a systematic assessment forward all infants, prior to discharge, for after risk of severe jaundice.

* Physicians should instruct the infant's parents to schedule a follow-up visit at three to five days of age, when the infant's bilirubin even is highest.

* Physicians should approve that mothers breastfeed at least eight to 12 times a day for the first not many days. This will help originate enough milk and help hold the infant's bilirubin level down.

* Physicians should provide parents with written and oral information about newborn jaundice. A "Frequently Asked Questions" document is included with the guidelines and is available online at http://www.aap. org/family/jaundicefaq.htm.

The Center for Disease have the direction of and Prevention (CDC) supports the use of the revised guideline for eliminating kernicterus and hyperbilirubinemia. In 2001 the CDC reported an increase of kernicterus cases in the United States and encouraged systematic assessment of bilirubin evens in newborns before their discharge from the birth hospital, along with accurate follow-up care, lactation support, and parent education about jaundice. Additional information about kernicterus is available at http://www cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/kernicterus.htm.

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

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