Kernicterus: still a concern.

The presence of yellow staining and damage to the brain caused by unconjugated bilirubin was first described by Hervieux in 1847. Kernicterus, the technical term used to describe the intense yellow staining in the basal ganglia of the brain, was first used by Schmorl in 1903. Perhaps as many as 60 percent of all babies born each year in the U.S. are diagnosed with clinical jaundice. Kernicterus is a preventable brain injury caused by severe jaundice, yet it remains a threat today. Because of this, anyone caring for newborns must be aware of the risks and treatment for hyperbilirubinemia and the sequelae of this seemingly benign entity.