Newborn jaundice occurs when a child has elevated bilirubin levels in the blood . Bilirubin is a yellow substance that the body creates to replace old red blood cells. The liver helps to destroy it, after which it is removed with feces from the body of the child.
Due to the high level of bilirubin, the baby's skin, as well as the whites of the eyes turn yellow. This condition was called "jaundice of the newborn."
Causes
It is normal for a baby to have bilirubin levels slightly higher some time after birth.
This is due to the fact that when the baby grows in the womb, the placenta removes bilirubin from its body. After birth, the baby’s liver begins to perform this function, but sometimes in the early days it does not cope with it properly.
Most children have a slight yellowing of the skin - jaundice of the newborn (the alternative name is “physiological jaundice”). It is harmless, and sometimes passes when the baby is 2 to 4 days old. In most cases, this condition does not cause any problems.
Two types of jaundice can occur in newborns who are breast-fed, which are usually completely harmless.
• Breastfeeding jaundice manifests itself in the early days of life, especially in those babies who are deficient in mother's milk.
• Jaundice of breast milk can occur in healthy babies after the seventh day of life and lasts about 2 to 3 weeks. Its appearance may be due to some substance in breast milk, which affects the destruction of bilirubin in the liver.
A severe form of jaundice in a newborn can take in such cases:
• Abnormal forms of blood cells.
• Rhesus conflict.
• Bleeding under the scalp caused by difficult childbirth.
• Increased red blood cell count, which is more common in infants with small gestational age and twins.
• Various infections.
• Lack (deficiency) of important proteins called enzymes.
In addition, such factors can complicate the removal of bilirubin and lead to a more severe form of jaundice:
• Some types of drugs.
• Congenital infections, such as syphilis, rubella, etc.
• Diseases affecting the liver and biliary tract (hepatitis, cystic fibrosis).
• Reduced oxygen levels.
• Various genetic or hereditary diseases.
Babies born prematurely also have a tendency to develop jaundice.
Symptoms
Jaundice causes yellowing of the skin and sclera. Lethargy, constant fatigue and poor appetite are also symptoms of a condition such as newborn jaundice.
Treatment
Treatment is usually not required. A child needs therapy if his bilirubin level is too high or too fast.
Feed your baby often and well. Frequent feedings (up to 12 times per day) encourage frequent bowel movements to help flush bilirubin through the stool.
Some babies receive treatment before being discharged from the hospital. Others may have to come back in a few days. Treatment in the hospital will take only 1 - 2 days. To do this, use special blue photolamps, which help to destroy bilirubin in the skin.
However, when the level of bilirubin is not very high, you can do phototherapy at home with a fiber optic blanket that is equipped with tiny bright bulbs.
In the most difficult cases of jaundice, an intravenous immunoglobulin course may be prescribed.
Prospects
Usually newborn jaundice is not harmful. In most children, it goes without treatment.
However, too high a level of bilirubin can cause permanent damage to the brain. Such a disease is called nuclear jaundice. Therefore, timely diagnosis and treatment is absolutely necessary to maintain the health of your child and prevent such a dangerous disease.
Complications
Very rare, but serious and dangerous complications associated with too high a level of bilirubin:
• cerebral palsy.
• Deafness.
• Nuclear jaundice.