Study Shows Jaundice Pre-Screening Can Prevent Brain Damage Associated With Cerebral Palsy

By Brittany Golledge

Published on August 01, 2005

A study conducted by the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) has revealed that a test detecting jaundice in newborns may help to prevent irreparable brain damage and physical impairment in infants. The test, performed on infants prior to discharge, screens for jaundice, a relatively common condition that is easy and relatively inexpensive to treat.

As many as 60% of all newborns experience some level of jaundice following birth. Generally, jaundice goes away on its own, but if left untreated it can cause kernicterus, a severe form of brain damage that may leads to hearing loss, vision problems, and cerebral palsy.

Currently, the majority of hospitals in the United States do not screen for jaundice in newborns. Many continue to rely on visual detection of the early symptoms of jaundice, including a yellowing of the eyes and skin. However, severe jaundice cannot always be detected by visual cues.

Healthcare organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control, have issued alerts indicating the potential risk for kernicterus in infants with progressive symptoms of jaundice. This new study has revealed a higher incidence of children at risk for kernicterus than previously thought.

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