Which statement about physiologic jaundice in newborns is accurate?

• A. Appears after 24 hours and resolves by 1-2 weeks
• B. Appears immediately at birth
• C. Resolves by 6 weeks
• D. Persists beyond 2 months

Answer: (D)

Physiologic jaundice happens because a newborn’s liver is not yet fully able to conjugate bilirubin. As the liver matures over the first days of life, bilirubin levels rise a bit and then fall naturally as conjugation improves and feeding stabilizes. This type of jaundice is typically first noticed after about 24 hours, often appearing on day 2 or 3, and it usually resolves within the first 1–2 weeks in term infants (up to about 3 weeks in preterm infants).

So the statement that physiologic jaundice appears after 24 hours and resolves by 1–2 weeks accurately reflects its usual timeline. A jaundice that appears immediately at birth suggests a non-physiologic, pathologic cause. A resolution by 6 weeks or persistence beyond 2 months would be longer than expected for physiologic jaundice and would warrant evaluation for other conditions.