Incidence and Possible Relation to Athetosis of Neonatal Jaundice of Unknown Aetiology

Abstract

In a consecutive series of newborn babies surviving the first week of life, the incidence of jaundice of unknown etiology is 28.3% (i. e. 971 out of 3,423). Newborn babies with jaundice of unknown etiology rarely develop athetosis. For those who develop athetosis, jaundice of unknown etiology can explain only some, namely, two-thirds of the children with a birth weight of 2,500 g. or less, and a little more than one-half of the children with a birth weight greater than 2,500 g. In the remaining cases, one-third and almost one-half respectively, the etiology of the athetosis is assumed to be the same as in children with no jaundice. It is concluded that in newborn babies with jaundice of unknown origin exchange transfusion will prevent kernikterus in 1-2 per 1,000 with a birth weight of 2,500 g. or less, and in 0-1 per 10,000 weighing more than 2,500 g.