Bilirubin Range For Infants

In case the levels of bilirubin in the body are within the normal range it does not create a problem.

Bilirubin range for infants. Although most causes are benign each case must be investigated to rule out an etiology with significant morbidity. Almost all babies have increased bilirubin levels within 1 2 days of birth. However at times it is possible for the amount of bilirubin in the body to rise to a very high level which in turn can lead to serious health complications. Hyperbilirubinemia excess bilirubin in the blood is an extremely common problem occurring during the newborn period.

In a healthy infant born at full term bilirubin levels tend to cause concern. Newborn jaundice is a yellowing of a baby s skin and eyes. The 95th percentile for bottle fed infants is a serum bilirubin level of 11 4 mg dl v 14 5 mg dl for the breast fed population and the 97th percentiles are 12 4 and 14 8 mg dl respectively. It happens because the blood breaks down in the same way in newborns as in adults but newborns have relatively immature pathways of the liver.

Additionally normal reference ranges may vary from lab to lab. Infant jaundice is yellow discoloration of a newborn baby s skin and eyes. Bilirubin can be described as the yellowish substance that is produced by the liver when old cells are broken down. Total bilirubin direct and indirect range from about 0 2 to 1 2 mg dl some lab values range as high as 1 9 mg dl.

A common condition it can occur when babies have a high level of bilirubin a yellow pigment produced during the breakdown of red. The cause of the jaundice is quite varied. Because the bilirubin has a color it turns babies shin and eyes yellow jaundice. Infant jaundice is a common condition particularly in babies born before 38 weeks gestation preterm babies and some breast fed babies.

Normal bilirubin levels are usually under 5mg dl but most newborns have it above 5mg dl and have some kind of jaundice at birth. Medical literature sources have minor variations in normal levels. Of the formula fed infants 2 24 had serum bilirubin levels greater than 12 9 mg dl v 8 97 of breast fed infants p less than 000001. It s normal to have some bilirubin in your blood.

The approximate normal range of bilirubin in the blood serum is. 1 2 milligrams per deciliter mg dl for adults. Infant jaundice occurs because the baby s blood contains an excess of bilirubin bil ih roo bin a yellow pigment of red blood cells. The indirect bilirubin level in the bloodstream is the total bilirubin minus the direct bilirubin levels in the bloodstream.