A first-time dad is concerned that his 3-day-old daughter's skin looks "yellow." In the nurse's explanation of physiologic jaundice,what fact should be included?
A) Physiologic jaundice occurs during the first 24 hours of life.
B) Physiologic jaundice is caused by blood incompatibilities between the mother and the infant blood types.
C) Physiologic jaundice becomes visible when serum bilirubin levels peak between the second and fourth days of life.
D) Physiologic jaundice is also known as breast milk jaundice.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Physiologic jaundice becomes visible when the serum bilirubin reaches a level of 5 mg/dl or higher when the baby is approximately 3 days old.This finding is within normal limits for the newborn.Pathologic jaundice,not physiologic jaundice,occurs during the first 24 hours of life and is caused by blood incompatibilities that result in excessive destruction of erythrocytes; this condition must be investigated.Breast milk jaundice occurs in one third of breastfed infants at 2 weeks and is caused by an insufficient intake of fluids.

A First-Time Dad Is Concerned That His 3-Day-Old Daughter's Skin