What is the Difference Between Physiological and Pathological Jaundice?

The difference between physiological and pathological jaundice lies in their causes, onset, and potential impact on the baby's health.

Physiological Jaundice:

Caused by abnormal metabolism of bilirubin.
Appears after 2-3 days of birth.
Disappears by itself in about 1-2 weeks after birth.
Causes a small impact on the baby's overall health.
Common in term infants and usually resolves within 1 week in term infants and 2 weeks in preterm infants.
Bilirubin concentration is not more than 12mg% in term infants and not more than 14mg% in preterm infants.

Pathological Jaundice:

Caused by various factors such as infections, congenital biliary malformations, and neonatal hemolysis.
Appears within 24 hours of birth.
The baby's serum level of bilirubin continues to rise over time.
Can last more than 2 weeks for full-term babies and more than 4 weeks for preterm babies.
If not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, it can lead to complications such as riboflavin disease and, in rare cases, irreversible and life-threatening bilirubin encephalopathy.

In summary, physiological jaundice is a mild, transient, and self-limiting condition that typically resolves without treatment, while pathological jaundice is a more severe form caused by various factors and may require medical intervention to prevent complications.

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What is the Difference Between Physiological and Pathological Jaundice?

Comparative Table: Physiological vs Pathological Jaundice

Here is a table comparing the differences between physiological and pathological jaundice:

Feature	Physiological Jaundice	Pathological Jaundice
Definition	A normal yellow tint in the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes that appears 2-3 days after birth, disappears within 1-2 weeks, and causes little impact on the baby's overall health	A yellow tint in the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes that is not normal, appears within 24 hours after birth, and may have an underlying pathological cause
Onset	After 2-3 days of birth	Within 24 hours of birth
Duration	Disappears within 1-2 weeks after birth	Can last more than 2 weeks for full-term babies and longer for preterm babies
Bilirubin Levels	Normal levels of bilirubin	Elevated levels of bilirubin
Causes	Immaturity of the liver, increased hemolysis	Various causes, including bacterial infections, liver or gallbladder disease, and hemolytic anemia
Treatment	No treatment necessary, typically disappears on its own	Requires further investigation and appropriate treatment based on the underlying cause

Physiological jaundice is a normal occurrence in newborns and is not considered a cause for concern, while pathological jaundice is more concerning and requires further investigation to determine the underlying cause.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.