Jaundice is a condition that most people might see in newborns.
However, the jaundice in newborns and adults fundamentally differ from each other!
A significant difference is that newborn jaundice occurs because newborns have many more red blood cells than adults when they are in their mother's womb.
These extra red blood cells, once outside the mother's body, rupture due to oxidation.
When the child's liver cannot metabolize so many red blood cells simultaneously, bilirubin accumulates in the blood, turning the sclera, skin, and mucous membranes yellow.
In adults, jaundice is due to liver dysfunction that prevents bilirubin from being metabolized properly.
This is clinically manifested as hyperbilirubinemia, where the elevated bilirubin levels in the blood cause yellow discoloration of the sclera, skin, mucous membranes, and other tissues and fluids.
Newborn jaundice is easily cured and generally recedes quickly after treatment.
