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Jaundice in newborns
Jaundice in newborns
Jaundice in newborns is not uncommon, and it is a concern for young parents when faced with this situation. Parents should know and understand the causes, signs, and symptoms of jaundice in infants because some cases will resolve on their own, while others can pose a dangerous threat to the life of the newborn.
The cause of jaundice in newborns is the accumulation of bilirubin – a yellow pigment produced when red blood cells break down. Babies have a high level of red blood cells, and these cells are frequently broken down and replaced. Meanwhile, the baby's liver is not mature enough to filter out all the bilirubin from the blood.
Is jaundice in newborns dangerous?
Jaundice in newborns is categorized into 2 levels of the disease:
Physiological Jaundice: When the baby is born within 24 hours and up to 1 week for full-term infants, and 2 weeks for preterm infants, the newborn's skin may have yellow patches on the face, neck, chest, and upper abdomen. However, the baby still breastfeeds normally with no other unusual symptoms. Parents just need to take good care of the baby, ensure sufficient breastfeeding, and the yellow patches on the baby's skin will disappear.
Pathological Jaundice: In some cases, the baby's skin may exhibit a darker yellow hue, and the yellowing may spread all over the body. The baby refuses to breastfeed, shows signs of discomfort, and appears different from other babies. These are indications of pathological jaundice, which is very dangerous to the baby's health. It can lead to permanent neurological complications such as deafness, blindness, or even more severe outcomes like cerebral palsy. Parents should pay attention and take the baby to the hospital for special care and treatment.
How to treat jaundice in newborns
When the baby has pathological jaundice that poses a threat to their health, parents should take the baby to medical centers for jaundice treatment using the following methods:
Phototherapy: Phototherapy is an effective and safe method for treating jaundice in newborns. It involves placing the baby under special lights to break down bilirubin in the body, allowing the baby's liver to function normally and easily eliminate toxins.
Blood Transfusion Method: When a newborn is suffering from jaundice, and parents are unaware, leading to a worsening condition, blood transfusion may be necessary. This method helps the baby's body detoxify more rapidly by reducing the bilirubin in their system, allowing the baby's liver to function more effectively.
Can jaundice in newborns recur?
The cause of jaundice in newborns is an increase in bilirubin and occurs only in preterm infants or in the first weeks of a newborn's life. If a mother had a baby with jaundice before, it doesn't necessarily mean the subsequent baby will also be affected. As the baby grows and develops a strong immune system, and if the baby's liver functions normally, the yellowing of the baby's skin may not recur. Early detection and treatment of jaundice in newborns are now easily manageable. Simply placing the baby under phototherapy lights can help eliminate bilirubin and improve the baby's liver function. Therefore, parents only need to take good care of the baby, paying attention to any unusual signs, and promptly seeking treatment without excessive worry about jaundice in newborns.
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