Underlying etiologies of prolonged icterus in neonates.

The purpose of this study was to determine underlying causes of prolonged neonatal icterus. Icterus or jaundice is an important common problem in neonatology. When this condition persists beyond 14 days, it is called prolonged or protracted neonatal icterus. Determining underlying causes of this problem is a pivotal step for management, because a delay in treatment may lead to serious complications or even death. In a prospective study, newborns with diagnosis of prolonged icterus were evaluated during a six-month period in Tabriz Children Teaching Hospital. Data regarding the past medical history, physical examination and appropriate laboratory and paraclinical investigations were gathered and accordingly, the underlying cause of jaundice was documented. One hundred newborns, 67 males and 33 females with a mean age of 21.5 +/- 4.5 days were enrolled. Breastfeeding, urinary tract infection, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and hypothyroidism were found as the main underlying causes in 75, 7, 7 and 4% of the cases. The exact etiology was unknown in 4% of newborns. ABO incompatibility, sepsis and Down syndrome were underlying etiologies in remaining three patients. Present study showed that the underlying causes of prolonged neonatal jaundice could be determined in majority of cases and breastfeeding is the most common one in this regard.