Neonatal jaundice occurs due to a build-up of bilirubin in an infant's blood, which the newborn's small liver is incapable of breaking down. This is called neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, and it results in the classic symptom: yellowing of the skin and eyes. If left untreated, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia can lead to highly serious complications such as blindness, cerebral palsy, and, in severe cases, death.

 

2/3 of infants develop jaundice... and 1/10 of these cases are severe enough to lead to life-long illness or death.

Annually, neonatal jaundice leads to over 600,000 deaths in the developing world,

and 6 million infants go without treatment.