Objective To provide epidemiological data for revising the diagnostic criteria of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in China Methods A survey was performed among full term infants in multiple centers throughout the country From less than 24 hours after birth, the infants' bilirubin levels were measured every day until the peak level fell to less than 68 4?μmol/L Auditory brainstem responses were assessed in 56 infants randomly chosen from those with serum bilirubin levels of higher than 220 5?μmol/L Results Jaundice in most infants was detected at 2-3 days after birth The bilirubin level usually reached a peak level of 204±54 69?μmol/L at 5 days after birth and then fell Among the 875 infants, the serum bilirubin levels in 34 4% of neonates were higher than 220 5?μmol/L The mean serum bilirubin level of the infants during the first week after birth varied with geography ( P <0 001) and season ( P <0 001) The serum bilirubin level was significantly associated with gestation age ( P <0 01), delivery method ( P <0 01), weight loss ( P <0 001), and PCV elevation ( P <0 001) during the first three days after birth Conclusions The start time of neonatal jaundice was similar to that reported elsewhere, but the mean peak level in our study was higher than the reported It is suggested that the diagnostic criteria for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in China should be strict
