Study on Newborn Babies With a Yellow Skin Color (Neonatal Jaundice Study)

Background: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is the most common reason for admission in the neonatal period (first month of life) worldwide and at SMRU. The skin of the newborn baby becomes jaundiced, which is caused by a high level of bilirubin in the blood. In some neonates the level of bilirubin increases to a level that can cause braindamage or even death. There are different causes known that can lead to higher levels of bilirubin, for example G6PD deficiency and prematurity. In case of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia the neonate needs to be treated with phototherapy (blue light therapy). If there is prolonged jaundice (≥ 21 days), further investigations needs to be done. Objectives: Primary objective: To determine the etiology of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in neonates with a gestational age of ≥ 28 weeks from the refugee and migrant population, on the Thai-Myanmar border. Secondary objective: * Establishing the incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia * Determine the risk factors for the development of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia * Determine the incidence of prolonged neonatal jaundice * Determine the neurodevelopmental outcome, at the age of 6 and 12 months * Determine the body composition, using air-displacement plethysmography, at birth, 1, 2 and 3 months of age * Determine the incidence of anaemia and illness episodes during the first year of life * Determine the incidence of helminthic infection at the age of one year * Assess the knowledge level and misbeliefs on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia among the mothers and SMRU health care staff Research design: The study will conduct an exhaustive prospective descriptive study, all eligible newborns will be enrolled after obtaining the informed consent from their mothers. During pregnancy and delivery we will collect clinical data about the mother. At birth we will take umbilical cord blood (9 ml) to test for different causes of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. In the first week of life we plan 4 moments to measure the