Hyperbilirubinemia and influencing factors in term infants.

The development of jaundice was investigated in 275 consecutive full-term infants and determined longitudinally in each neonate. The mean peak of bilirubin was 7.90 +/- 0.20 mg/dl observed at 64.0 +/- 1.3 h of life. Three factors were found to significantly alter the course of hyperbilirubinemia: first and second bilirubin determinations (at 2 to 4 h and 12 to 24 h, respectively), weight loss and male sex. Increased weight loss was positively correlated with hyperbilirubinemia irrespective of the mode of feeding.