INCIDENCE AND CAUSES OF SEVERE HYPERBILIRUBINAEMIA IN NEWBORN INFANTS IN THE NETHERLANDS: A TWO YEAR PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Background Cases of bilirubin encephalopathy became sporadic since the introduction of phototherapy. Less aggressive treatment guidelines were introduced in the Netherlands in 1997. In the last decades there is an increasing number of cases of bilirubin encephalopathy in international literature. Aim To determine the incidence of severe hyperbilirubinaemia in newborns in the Netherlands and to identify associated risk factors. Methods Severe hyperbilirubinaemia was included in the Dutch paediatric surveillance (NSCK) from July 2005 until June 2007. Dutch paediatricians were asked to report ter... Mehr ...