Can Kernicterus Cause Cerebral Palsy?

Jaundice is one of the most common conditions in the first days of life, visible in roughly 60 per cent of babies born at term. In almost all babies, it is mild and passes without the need for treatment. In a very small number of cases, severe jaundice that is not recognised and treated in time can cause a form of brain injury called kernicterus. In the UK, kernicterus is rare, affecting around one in every 100,000 births, and is largely preventable through standard care for newborn babies.

If your baby had severe jaundice, and your child has since been diagnosed with cerebral palsy or hearing loss, you may be asking whether the two are connected and whether earlier testing or treatment could have prevented their injury. In this guide, JMW explains how kernicterus can cause cerebral palsy, the warning signs and risk factors doctors and midwives should respond to, and when families may have grounds to investigate a kernicterus claim or a cerebral palsy claim.