For every newborn, healthcare providers will do several examinations and test to make sure your baby is healthy and well. One of the conditions they look for is jaundice in a baby. As parents, you may have some questions about jaundice in a baby.
What is jaundice?
Jaundice is the presence of yellowish tinge in the baby’s skin and white part of the eyes. It is due to excess bilirubin in the baby’s blood and in medical terms, we called it hyperbilirubinemia. Jaundice is a common condition affects about 50% of newborns, with higher percentages in premature babies. Although jaundice is a common condition, the baby may need to follow up to ensure that their jaundice has subsided. Jaundice should be taken seriously as persistent high levels of bilirubin can cause brain damage (kernicterus) in a baby.
What causes jaundice in a baby?
There are several causes of jaundice in a baby. They can be classified into physiologic and pathological jaundice. In most cases, a baby has physiologic jaundice. Baby has a developing liver, which is unable to get rid of excess bilirubin from the bloodstream. It normally occurs after 24 hours of birth, progressing until the 3rd or 4th day and resolved in around one week of time.
Pathological jaundice is caused by some underlying conditions that cause the build-up of bilirubin in the bloodstream. It is less common than physiologic jaundice. The causes can be due to G6PD deficiency, infection, incompatibility of the between mother’s and babies blood group and problems with babies digestive system.
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What are the symptoms to look for?
In most babies, you will notice the yellowish tinge of the babies skin and white part of the sclera. Babies may have poor feeding, high pitched cry, sluggish and becoming more yellowish if the bilirubin jaundice worsened.
How is it diagnosed and treated?
Doctors will ask you about the onset of jaundice, the blood groups and the baby’s condition. Your doctor may order a blood test to find out the level of bilirubin in the bloodstream.
The treatment the jaundice is dependent on the bilirubin in your baby’s blood. In mild jaundice, the baby will receive special lights and controlled conditions to reduce jaundice. In severe cases, your baby may need a blood transfusion.
What can you do if your baby has jaundice?
Whenever your baby has jaundice, there are several helpful steps that can be done :
- Observe any increase in skin yellowing, if the condition worsened, please bring back to your doctor.
- Attend follow-ups arranged by your doctor
- Ensure enough food is given to the baby, it can help to reduce breastmilk jaundice in the baby.
If you have any questions or queries, always consult your doctor or health care providers to obtain more information.
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