A Review on Image Processing Based Neonatal Jaundice Detection Techniques

Jaundice or Hyperbilirubinemia is a very common condition that affects newborns in their first few weeks of life. The main cause of jaundice is the high level of bilirubin substance in the blood. As bilirubin is toxic to the brain cells, acute bilirubin encephalopathy can occur in cases of extreme jaundice. This condition can result in brain trauma and lead to Kernicterus. Thus, a timely diagnosis and treatment can help in preventing long-term damage. Many jaundice diagnosis techniques that are based on computer vision and image processing were proposed in literature. In this paper we present a thorough review on most of these techniques, highlight their pros and cons, and compare between them in terms of the method used, advantages, limitations, and the region of interest selected for processing.