Bilirubin is produced from the breakdown of hemoglobin, which is the molecule that carries oxygen inside red blood cells. The liver processes the bilirubin and it is removed from the body in the stool. Elevated levels of bilirubin lead to yellow staining of the skin, called jaundice. More than half of all babies appear slightly jaundiced on the second to third day of life.

Jaundice may occur under the following circumstances:

• Increased breakdown of red blood cells
• Poor processing of bilirubin by the liver
• Blockage of the flow of bilirubin from the liver to the intestine

Diseases that may cause jaundice in children include:

• Crigler-Najjar types I and II
• Dubin-Johnson syndrome
• Gallbladder disease
• Gilbert's syndrome
• Hepatitis
• Erythroblastosis fetalis
• Liver damage from alcohol, drugs, or poisons
• Rotor's syndrome
• Severe infections:
• Sepsis
• Hemolytic anemia:
• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
• Sickle cell anemia

Drugs that can cause jaundice in children include:

• Aminosalicylate sodium
• Chemotherapy drugs:
• The administration of medicines that kill cancer cells.
• Erythromycin
• Flucytosine
• Oral contraceptives
• Oral diabetes medicines:
• Tolbutamide
• Chlorpropamide
• Phenothiazine medications:
• Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
• Fluphenazine (Prolixin)
• Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
• Perphenazine (Trilafon)
• Thioridazine (Mellaril)
• Prochlorperazine (Compazine)
• Propylthiouracil
• Rifampin
• Steroids:
• Prednisone
• Medrol
• Sulfa drugs:
• Bactrim
• Septra
• Testosterone
• Tiopronin