A preterm infant has a yellow skin color and a rising bilirubin level. The nurse knows that this infant is at risk for what?

1 Answer
Jan 1, 2017

The infant is showing symptoms of severe neonatal jaundice.

Explanation:

A baby is born with a huge number of fetal erythrocytes which will be destroyed after birth. Fetal erythrocytes contain a form of haemoglobin which is more efficient in picking up oxygen from placental blood circulation of mother. In newborns, fetal haemoglobin will be replaced by normal type haemoglobin.

Destruction of erythrocytes and subsequent degradation of haemoglobin tend to increase production of a yellow compound called bilirubin. Accumulation of this compound in excess, in new born's blood, causes haemolytic jaundice.