Features of Neonatal Jaundice at Irrua Specialist Hospital, Irrua, in Edo State, Nigeria

Thirty of the 75 (2-7 day-old) jaundiced neonates delivered at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, in, Edo State were studied. Of the males, 55.6% were kernicteric, compared to 41.7% of the females. Two neonates who had sepsis had mean weight of 2.51 ± 0.86kg, indicating low birth-weight associated with malnutrition. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean weights of the male and female neonates (P > 0.05). There was high haemoglobin concentration as well as total, conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin levels in the neonates, indicative of pathologic hyperbilirubinaemia. The cause of the neonatal icterus may be due to haemolytic jaundice and ABO incompatibilty. Phototherapy, exchange blood transfusion and drugs were used in treating the jaundiced neonates. These and other adjunctive treatments achieved 96% survival rate. Immediate post-natal screening of neonates is necessary to improve their chances of survival. Key words: neonatal jaundice, case study, diagnosis, treatment Journal of Medical Laboratory Science Vol.13(1) 2004:36 - 4