Immigrant Newborn and Physiological Jaundice

Objective: In Italy there are a growing number of infants born to non-Italian mothers. The aim of this study is to analyze the physiological trend of bilirubin in newborns from South-east Asia and South America, compared to Italian newborns. Method: 60 newborns were enrolled: 20 Italian newborns, 20 South American newborns, 20 Southeast Asian newborns. All babies were born from normal pregnancies, delivered vaginally. There was no AB0 and Rh incompatibility. Daily total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels were the main outcome. Results: The bilirubin reached the peak on the third day of life in the Italian group (9.5 ± 2.7 mg/dL); on the fourth day of life in the Southeastern Asian group (9.9 ± 3.0 mg/dL) and on the fifth day of life in the South American group (10.9 ± 2.4 mg/dL). On the fifth, sixth and seventh day of life South American newborns had significantly higher TSB levels compared to the Italian group and to the Southeastern Asian group. Conclusion: The higher and delayed peak of bilirubin level in infants from Southeastern Asia and South America has epidemiological and health-care consequences. Dedicated nomograms should be processed to avoid the overtreatment and the discharge of newborns with a higher and later peak of bilirubin.