PATTERN OF PHYSIOLOGIC JAUNDICE AND INCIDENCE OF \"EXAGGERATED PHYSIOLOGIC\" HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA IN IRANIAN FULL-TERM INFANTS USING TRANSCUTANEOUS BILIRUBINOMETRY

Normal full-term infants were followed by serial transcutaneous bilirubinometry over the first week of life. The pattern of physiologic jaundice in our population was similar to that shown for white infants. Mean maximum bilirubin peak was seen on day four of life and was also similar to that shown for American white infants. The incidence of non physiologic hyperbilirubinemia defined as 2 SD above the mean maximum peak was about three times that reported for white infants, but similar to that reported for orientll .' populations. Oxytocin and the type of delivery did not seem to affect this high incidence. The role of breast feeding and G6PD deficiency needs to be further defined.