Objective: Prolonged jaundice is defined as persisting hyperbilirubinemia after the 14th day following birth for term and after the 21st day for preterm babies. This study was carried out to evaluate the clinical and laboratory findings of infants with prolonged jaundice followed-up at our neonatal outpatient clinic and to determine its etiology.

Material and Methods: A total of 100 infants with prolonged jaundice were included in this retrospective study. Prenatal, natal and postnatal characteristics of the babies were investigated. Results of laboratory tests were recorded after a detailed history and physical examination. Infants were followed-up until the total bilirubin level decreased to below 10 mg/dL.

Results: The mean birth weight of the infants was 3150±415 g (2200-4100 g), mean gestational age was 38±1.4 weeks (35-41 weeks), mean total bilirubin level at the time of diagnosis was 15±2 mg/dL and mean duration of follow-up was 41±12 days (20-70 days). Term, early term, and late preterm infants made up 39%, 49%, and 12% of the infants respectively. There was no difference between these infants except their birth weights and gestational ages. All the infants were appropriate for gestational age. The male ratio was 62%, the cesarean delivery was rate 47%, and 51% of babies had been treated with phototherapy. The underlying causes of prolonged jaundice were as follows: unknown (78%), urinary tract infection (14%), deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (3%), congenital hypothyroidism (3%), and blood group incompatibility (2%). Babies previously treated with phototherapy had a higher mean total bilirubin level at the time of diagnosis than those not treated (p=0.02)

Keywords: Etiology, Newborn, Prolonged jaundice, Bilirubin