CASE NOTES AND COMMENTARY - KERNICTERUS IN HUMAN INFANTS

Sepsis, acidosis, and anemia are factors that can increase the risk of kernicterus in newborn human infants. Sepsis undoubtedly contributed to the development of kernicterus in the equine case presented in this column. in a newborn infant with progressively severe indirect hyperi bilirubinemia, jaundice intensifies and free unconjugated bilirubin ap pears. The infant becomes lethargic, stops feeding, and then becomes s pastic and exhibits opisthotonos. Apnea supervenes, and the child dies . This commentary includes an overview oi the history of research into kernicterus in infants as weil as a discussion of the contributing fa ctors, clinical course and treatment of the disease.