European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

BREAST MILK JAUNDICE: AN INNOCUOUS CAUSE OF NEONATAL JAUNDICE THAT REQUIRES FULL ATTENTION

Henry Egbuchiem* and Akpezi Oshobe

ABSTRACT

Breast milk jaundice is a condition found in breast-fed neonates and it is considered to be a prolongation of physiologic jaundice caused by a factor found in breast milk. Although it is often referred to as a benign condition, the presence of increased unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier can lead to serious life-threatening conditions if not adequately treated in a timely manner. We report a case of a 48hours old female neonate who was accidentally discovered to have scleral icterus and subsequent hyperbilirubinemia on laboratory investigations. After numerous laboratory and imaging investigations to rule out other sinister causes of pathologic and physiogic hyperbilirubinemia, she was diagnosed with breast milk jaundice and managed with several episodes of exchange blood transfusion, phototherapy, and continuous breastfeeding. Even though clinicians consider breast milk jaundice as a diagnosis of exclusion there is a need to have a strong index of suspicion because of the potential of serious life-threatening complications in neonates.

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