Early diagnosis of neonatal cholestatic jaundice

Neonatal cholestasis should be considered in every baby in whom jaundice persists after day 10. Biliary atresia is the main cause of neonatal cholestasis and ifs prognosis is highly dependent on the early age at which surgery is performed. Finding the cause of cholestasis before day 30 is therefore crucial. This relies, in most instances, on simple clinical, biochemical, radiological and ophthalmologic criteria, the most important of which is a careful study of the degree and duration of stool discoloration. (C) 1998 Elsevier, Paris.