Differential Diagnosis of Jaundice on Day 2 of Life

Critical Timing Consideration

• Sepsis can cause hemolysis and hepatic dysfunction in infants, particularly those with risk factors such as exclusive breastfeeding with poor intake or East Asian ethnicity, requiring urgent investigation and treatment 1

Primary Differential Diagnoses

Infectious Etiologies

• Infants with sepsis or those at risk for sepsis, such as those with exclusive breastfeeding and poor intake or East Asian ethnicity, require aggressive monitoring and treatment to prevent complications 1

Risk Stratification

• Infants with gestational age <38 weeks require more aggressive monitoring and treatment due to increased risk of jaundice and its complications 2
• Exclusive breastfeeding with poor intake is a risk factor for jaundice, particularly in infants with East Asian ethnicity, and requires close monitoring 1
• East Asian ethnicity is a risk factor for jaundice, and infants with this ethnicity require more aggressive monitoring and treatment 1