Does your baby have JAUNDICE?
Have you seen a newborn baby with yellow skin or yellow eyeballs? If yes, chances are the baby is suffering from jaundice. If your baby has jaundice do not be alarmed: the condition is common, and can be treated effectively- but if neglected severe jaundice can harm your baby.
Causes of Jaundice
Jaundice is the yellowish discolouration of the skin, mucous membranes or the sclera (the white area of the eyeball), due to increased bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment normally present in the blood in small, clinically (that Is. using standard tests) undetectable amounts. When jaundice becomes clinically detectable, disease is present.
The metabolism of bilirubin is a process involving several body, organs including the liver. Once born, the baby no longer requires high levels of haemoglobin; a pigment in the red blood cells which facilitates the emulation of oxygen in blood, and its transfer within the uterus. These excess red blood cells break up in the liver into bilirubin, which leaves the body through urine or stool. It contributes to the brown colour of the stool and the pale yellow colour of urine, but the amounts in both the stool and urine are negligible.
A baby may become jaundiced if the liver is producing too much bilirubin or does not get rid of it quickly enough. Because the baby’s liver is immature at birth, removal of bilirubin may be delayed- leading to its accumulation in the blood and blood tissues. This is what presents as yellow colour on the skin and eyes, during the baby’s first few days of life. It disappears on its own as the baby’s liver matures.
Premature babies are more predisposed to high levels of jaundice, and must therefore be monitored carefully if jaundice is noticed.
How does jaundice affect your child?
Jaundice is not a disease, but a condition that presents in many different diseases. If left untreated however, jaundice may affect some of the baby’s brain cells. Persistently high levels of jaundice can cause yellow staining of some brain tissues, a fatal condition which can result in brain damage, and possibly death. If the baby survives, she will be less active and may lead to deafness, cerebral palsy or mental retardation.
Which babies are at a higher risk?
In general, babies who have the following conditions have been known to exhibit higher incidences of jaundice.
A baby who is born before 37 weeks gestation, normally has a liver that is not fully mature- and therefore is likely to become jaundiced.
Infants weighing less than 2.5 kilograms at birth are also at risk, as are those whose blood group is incompatible with their mother’s blood group (rhesus incompatibility).
Babies who have an infection that affects processing and disposal of bilirubin, may also develop jaundice.
How is jaundice diagnosed?
When a baby shows signs of jaundice, medical attention should be sought immediately. Physical examination by a doctor is necessary, and blood tests will be taken to help determine the cause of jaundice.
Parents with newborns should look out for yellowish discolouration of the eyes, skin and under the nails of the baby. Usually the discolouration will begin from the head, and spread downwards to the toes. A baby with jaundice may also display poor eating habits, low moods and reduced activity.
Treatment
Mothers are advised to expose their newborn babies to natural sunlight. Early morning sunlight is the most suitable, because the rays at that time are not as hot as later in the day. Exercise care, because the baby’s delicate skin after birth is highly susceptible to sunburn. Expose the baby’s arms and lower legs to sunlight, while protecting the head. Five to ten minutes daily are normally enough to rectify the problem. If this does not work, your baby most likely needs to undergo phototherapy in a hospital. This is treatment using blue fluorescent light. During phototherapy, the baby’s eyes are protected from the light by placing eye patches on them. Side effects of phototherapy are skin rashes, and loose greenish stools. The mother is therefore encouraged to give the baby fluids, especially frequent breastfeeding.
Persistent jaundice may indicate that another condition is causing I,t and the baby needs to be further examined by your health care provider.
END: BL 05/55