Hyperbilirubinemia in the healthy term newborn.

Jaundice is a common clinical problem in newborns. Although the need to diagnose and treat hyperbilirubinemia in the healthy term newborn has been controversial, recent reports of detrimental neurologic effects from elevated serum bilirubin levels in the healthy newborn make such scrutiny prudent. Until 1994, when the American Academy of Pediatrics developed guidelines for managing hyperbilirubinemia in the healthy term newborn, no standard of care was defined.