Transcutaneous bilirubinometer
This is hand held, portable and rechargeable but expensive. When pressure is applied to the photoprobe, a xenon tube generates a strobe light, and this light passes through the subcutaneous tissue. The reflected light returns through the second fiber optic bundle to the spectrophotometric module. The intensity of the yellow color in this light, after correcting for the hemoglobin, is measured and instantly displayed in arbitrary units. Pathological jaundice
Any of the following features suggests pathological jaundice:
Clinical jaundice appearing in the first 24 hours or greater than 14 days of life. Increases in the level of total bilirubin by more than 8.5 μmol/L (0.5 mg/dL) per hour or (85 μmol/L) 5 mg/dL per 24 hours. Total bilirubin more than 331.5 μmol/L (19.5 mg/dL) (hyperbilirubinemia). Direct bilirubin more than 34 μmol/L (2.0 mg/dL).The signs which help detect pathological jaundice are the presence of intrauterine growth restriction, stigma of intrauterine infections (e.g. cataracts, small head, and enlargement of the liver and spleen), cephalohematoma, bruising, signs of bleeding in the brains ventricles. History of illness is noteworthy. Family history of jaundice and anemia, family history of neonatal or early infant death due to liver disease, maternal illness suggestive of viral infection (fever, rash or lymphadenopathy), maternal drugs (e.g. sulphonamides, anti-malarials causing red blood cell destruction in G6PD deficiency) are suggestive of pathological jaundice in neonates. Treatment
The bilirubin levels for initiative of phototherapy varies depends on the age and health status of the newborn.
Pharmacological agents may also be required in cases where deficiency is more severe, in cases where iron loss exceeds dietary intake, and in individuals who follow a plant-based diet as non-heme sources often have lower bioavailability. When oral iron supplements are used, they should be taken on an empty stomach to increase absorption This might increase the risk of side effects however, such as nausea and epigastric pain. Anemia of Chronic Disease
Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) is the second most common cause of anemia after IDA. It usually occurs in individuals that have chronic inflammation due to a medical condition. Both diagnosis and treatment can be difficult as there may be an overlap with iron deficiency and thus it is a diagnosis of exclusion. Since ACD is caused by an underlying disorder, complete resolution of the condition is unlikely and we focus on controlling the inflammatory disorder rather than treating the ACD itself. Potential inflammatory conditions that can cause ACD are pulmonary tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and malignancies among many others. Thalassemia
Thalassemia is an inherited condition that has variants in alpha or beta globin genes that result in lower levels of globin chains required to make hemoglobin, resulting in alpha thalassemia or beta thalassemia, respectively. Diagnosis is made by DNA analysis for alpha thalassemia and hemoglobin analysis for beta thalassemia. Management of thalassemia involves chronic transfusions that maintain a hemoglobin level that reduces symptoms of anemia as well as suppresses extramedullary hematopoiesis which can lead to multiple morbidities.