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Kernicterus

Photo of two children sharing with each other


Kernicterus is a preventable life-long disability. Any baby with jaundice is at risk for kernicterus, but proper management and treatment can prevent this condition.  NEW  American Academy of Pediatrics Practice Guidelines


Parent Information

FAQs about kernicterus
  What is kernicterus?
  Who can develop kernicterus?

Terms
  
Medical terms and definitions

Warning signs of kernicterus

Information for Parents:

Logo for Parents of Infants and Children of Kernicerus (PICK)
Organization for Parents of Infants and Children of Kernicterus (PICK)

Treatment:

Video of hospital procedures testing for jaundice.
 

 


Cal Sheridan's Story

Cal and his MomMy son, Cal, was born a healthy baby boy on March 23, 1995 in a large accredited hospital that delivers over 5500 newborns a year. Cal was first noted to be jaundiced through visual assessment at 16.5 hours old, but a bilirubin test was not done. More...

Cal's thoughts on kernicterus:

I’m mad at all the mistakes on all these babies.” 

Cal age 9

A Mother's Scientific Perspective: Living with Kernicterus by Karen Dixon (PDF Document)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Kernicterus en Español
 

 


Health Care Professional Information

High levels of bilirubin are toxic to the developing newborn's central nervous system. In full term infants, acute symptoms of severe hyperbilirubinemia include extreme jaundice and neurologic abnormalities in level of consciousness, tone and movement, and brain stem function, particularly in relation to feeding and crying.

Risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia in the term newborn
 

 


Research

UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Kernicterus Research and Prevention Center

The main goal of this project is to track cases of severe hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus in order to identify risk factors and ways to prevent these conditions.
 

 


Partnerships

A new model of partnership between healthcare providers, public health organizations, and dedicated consumers has formed the “Kernicterus Prevention Partnership Campaign” (KPPC) in an effort to collaborate on ways to prevent kernicterus. By working together and sharing resources, the collaboration hopes to eradicate kernicterus.

The KPPC hopes to prevent all new cases of kernicterus from occurring in any full-term or near-term baby born in the United States by 2006 through a national campaign to educate communities and clinicians about the potential hazards of newborn jaundice. 

List of organizations participating in the kernicterus campaign

Goals and objectives of partnership

"Prevent this" partnership [video/text]
 

 
 

Guidelines for Health Care Professionals:

 NEW  American Academy of Pediatrics Practice Guidelines

American Academy of Pediatrics AAP News Vol. 18 No. 5 May 2001, p. 231

News stories

Better baby screening, September 4, 2004, The Californian.com

"PICKS families salute CDC disease detective for shedding light on a preventable tragedy." 7/31/01 Washington Fax

Kernicterus in Full-Term Infants -- United States, 1994-1998 (MMWR)

Tighter Monitoring of Jaundice Urged by CDC (WebMD)

Hospitals urge to test newborns for rare disorder
USA Today.com

Other Resources

Sentinel Event Alert Issue 18: Kernicterus Threatens Healthy Newborns

Kernicterus and the healthy term newborn, Canadian Paediatric Society

Note: Links to nonfederal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not indicate an endorsement of these organizations by CDC or the federal government.

 

 

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National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) promotes the health of babies, children, and adults, and enhances the potential for full, productive living.  Our work includes identifying the causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities, helping children to develop and reach their full potential, and promoting health and well-being among people of all ages with disabilities.