Role of G6PD, ABO incompatibility, low birth weight and infection in neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia.

In a random sample of 1,000 neonates from a Delhi Hospital the incidence of jaundice was 53% and of hyperbilirubinaemia (HB) 6%. Rh incompatibility was detected in 4% of the neonates. In 74 cases of HB (excluding those due to Rh incompatibility) collected from the above series and from subsequent hospital admissions, incidences of different factors contributing to HB were: low birth weight in 54%, G6PD deficiency in 35%, ABO incompatibility in 31% and infection in 31%. In 45% of them a single factor was present and in the remaining more than one factor was present.