Definition

Noun: A mild and usually temporary form of jaundice that causes a yellowish appearance of the skin and eyes in newborn infants. It is common and typically resolves without medical intervention.

Usage

Icterus neonatorum is a medical term used specifically to describe the common, benign jaundice seen in newborns shortly after birth. It is caused by the normal breakdown of fetal red blood cells and the immature liver's temporary inability to process the resulting bilirubin quickly enough.

Examples

• The pediatrician assured the parents that the baby's icterus neonatorum was normal and would likely clear up within a week.
• Monitoring for icterus neonatorum is a standard part of newborn care in the hospital.

Advanced Usage

• Physiological Jaundice: This is a synonymous clinical term often used interchangeably with to emphasize its normal, non-pathological nature.
• The management of icterus neonatorum primarily involves ensuring adequate feeding to help the baby's body excrete bilirubin.

Variants and Related Words

• Neonatal Jaundice (n): A broader term that encompasses both physiological jaundice () and other, more serious causes of jaundice in newborns.
• Hyperbilirubinemia (n): The technical term for an elevated level of bilirubin in the blood, which is the condition that causes the visible symptoms of .

Synonyms

• Physiological jaundice
• Newborn jaundice

Antonyms

• Pathological jaundice (jaundice caused by an underlying disease, infection, or blood group incompatibility)

Noun

1. yellowish appearance in newborn infants; usually subsides spontaneously