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Jaundice in a newborn baby is usually a physiological condition. It manifests itself with a yellow color of the skin and all mucous membranes, as well as the whites of the eyes of the newborn. Yellowness is due to higher-than-normal levels of bilirubin, which is excreted through the liver and bile ducts into the gastrointestinal tract.
Jaundice in a newborn is most easily seen in the sclera, the so-called eyeball proteins. The cause of jaundice is bilirubin. It is produced by the natural breakdown of hemoglobin in red blood cells. What are the causes of jaundice and when does it become serious?
Jaundice in a newborn – definition
Newborns develop jaundice around 2-3 days after birth, and some show clear jaundice. Jaundice in a newborn baby is due to the amount of red blood cells. In utero, the baby has many more red blood cells. This amount is no longer needed after childbirth, so most of the red blood cells and hemoglobin break down after birth. As a result, a lot of bilirubin is produced, which the newborn’s liver cannot deal with quickly.
Jaundice in a newborn baby should appear about 2-3 days after birth and disappear by the 10th day of life. If we are talking about physiological jaundice, the bilirubin level is within the normal range for a given child’s age. It does not require treatment and goes away on its own. In premature babies, jaundice starts a little later and also lasts longer.
Jaundice in a newborn – diagnosis
Jaundice in a newborn baby is not always physiological. Additional tests must be performed if:
- jaundice appears on the 1st day of life;
- the concentration of bilirubin exceeds the norm;
- jaundice lasts more than 10 days in the case of full-term babies and 14 days in the case of premature babies;
- gray-white stool and dark urine.
If these symptoms appear, it may be due to:
- mother’s milk – the most common cause of prolonged jaundice;
- serological conflict – incompatibility of the blood group of mother and child;
- infections;
- liver disease;
- atresia of the bile ducts.
Additional tests may be ordered by your doctor, who will order tests when jaundice develops.
Jaundice in a newborn – prevention
To avoid severe jaundice in the newborn, you should:
- breastfeed your baby 8 to 12 times a day;
- not drinking the baby if it is breastfed;
- get information about your baby’s jaundice and what to do at home on discharge.
Jaundice in a newborn – consequences
Jaundice in a newborn baby is not serious, but in some situations it can damage the brain. It is caused by the late start of treatment and the increase in bilirubin in the blood.
Jaundice in the newborn – treatment
Physiological jaundice does not require treatment. This condition disappears on its own after some time. Likewise, jaundice caused by breast milk.
Irradiation is most often recommended. They are used when bilirubin levels are too high or rising rapidly. The irradiation is then applied around the clock to the largest possible area of the child’s body. A special UV lamp for phototherapy is used during irradiation. The UV rays break down the bilirubin in the skin, thus reducing its level in the blood.
It happens that the irradiations do not work, then partial blood transfusion is necessary.
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