Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 1, 2026

How to Administer Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Critically ill Neonates, Infants, and Children
07:27

How to Administer Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Critically ill Neonates, Infants, and Children

Published on: August 19, 2020

12.9K

Infants at risk of significant hyperbilirubinemia in poorly-resourced countries: evidence from a scoping review

Bolajoko O Olusanya1,2, Tina M Slusher3,4

  • 1, Lagos, Nigeria. bolajoko.olusanya@uclmail.net.

World Journal of Pediatrics : WJP
|October 12, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia causes significant mortality and morbidity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Key risk factors include blood group incompatibilities, infections, and prematurity, necessitating targeted research and interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Public Health
  • Global Health

Background:

  • Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia presents a substantial health challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), leading to high mortality and long-term morbidities.
  • Understanding the etiological and risk factors is crucial for developing effective interventions and research priorities in these regions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a scoping review to identify etiological/risk factors for clinically significant neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in LMICs.
  • To inform future intervention strategies and research priorities for managing hyperbilirubinemia in LMICs.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic search of multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, WHO, African Index Medicus, AJOL, LILACS, Indian Journals) for studies published between January 1990 and August 2014.
  • Inclusion of studies on the etiology or morbidity of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in LMICs (per capita income ≤ US$ 6000) without study design restrictions.

Main Results:

  • A total of 131 studies from 23 LMICs were identified.
  • Frequently associated factors included ABO and Rhesus incompatibilities, diabetes mellitus, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, prematurity/low birth weight, infection, birth trauma, and drug-induced labor.
  • Exclusive breastfeeding and genetic factors were underexplored in the reviewed literature.

Conclusions:

  • Multiple maternal, perinatal, and neonatal factors contribute to neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in LMICs.
  • Enhanced research and strategic interventions are needed to reduce the burden of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in these countries.
Abstract

Keywords:
bilirubin-encephalopathydeveloping countrieskernicterusperinatal outcomesrisk factors

More Related Videos

Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers09:36

Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers

Published on: July 28, 2022

2.7K
Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia13:13

Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia

Published on: August 24, 2011

14.5K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
332
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
732
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
374
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
464
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
769
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
1.0K