jaundice refers to the yellow color of skin, nail beds, and sclera (whites of the eyes) caused by deposition of a protein called bilirubin. (FYI bilirubin is what makes your poo brown and your pee yellow- technical medical terms i know). Jaundice is not a disease but a symptom of many diseases.
jaundice in premature newborns is elevated because a certain enzyme to break it down does not reach adult levels until about 4 weeks after birth. thus, premature babies may turn yellow.
to solve this problem, i am taught to shine a blue fluorescent light on them to convert the bilirubin into a more water soluble form which can be excreted through urine.
moral of the story...
Yellow Baby+ Blue Light= health
haha
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