Question
What are the causes of jaundice in newborns with sepsis?
Answer
Sepsis can cause jaundice, known as infectious toxic hepatitis. Symptoms include elevated bilirubin levels, elevated white blood cell count, elevated neutrophil count, and mild fever. Bacteria can be found in the blood during blood culture. Infection may come from an unhealed umbilical cord, especially if a newborn’s umbilical cord has not fallen off within two weeks after birth. Improper care may lead to umbilical cord infection, which can then progress to sepsis.