Jaundice in newborns, also known as hyperbilirubinemia, is a condition in which the level of bilirubin in a baby’s blood increases, resulting in a yellow tint to the skin and mucous membranes. It is quite common in newborns and usually appears a few days after birth.
What are the causes of jaundice?
Jaundice in newborns is caused by increased levels of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment that is formed when old red blood cells (RBCs) break down. Bilirubin usually passes through the liver and is eliminated from the body through the intestines. The causes of jaundice in newborns may be the following:
- physiological jaundice. This is the most common type of jaundice in newborns. It occurs due to a temporary inability of the infant’s liver to quickly process and remove bilirubin from the blood. Physiological jaundice usually appears 2-3 days after birth and improves on its own within a few weeks;
- enzyme deficiency. Some newborns may have insufficient amounts of the enzymes needed to process bilirubin in the liver;
- bleeding or hemolytic jaundice. In rare cases, jaundice can be caused by increased destruction of red blood cells, leading to high bilirubin levels. This can happen, for example, due to incompatibility between the blood of mother and child or genetic disorders;
- maternal hormones. Some babies may experience a period of icteric discoloration of the skin due to the influence of hormones passed on from the mother during pregnancy.
In most cases, jaundice in newborns is common and resolves without any complications. However, it is important to contact your pediatrician if you notice that the icteric discoloration of the skin persists or worsens to rule out possible problems and take the necessary measures if necessary.
How does jaundice manifest?
Symptoms of jaundice in newborns usually appear as yellow discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes. Here are some main symptoms of jaundice in babies:
- yellow skin. Jaundice usually begins on the face and then spreads to the body, abdomen and limbs. Color can vary from pale yellow to deep orange;
- yellow eyes. Most often, the icteric color is noticeable on the sclera of the eyes (the whites of the eye), which is called scleral jaundice;
- drowsiness and weakness. Some infants with jaundice may be very sleepy or weak;
- loss of appetite. Some children with jaundice may have a decreased appetite;
- light urine. A child with jaundiced urine may be unusually light in color or even appear white;
- dark chair. As a consequence of elevated bilirubin levels, newborns may have dark-colored stools.
Physiological jaundice usually appears on the second or third day after birth and can last several weeks until the baby’s body learns to effectively process bilirubin. In most cases, jaundice goes away on its own and does not require special treatment.
However, if the icteric discoloration of the skin persists or worsens, or if the infant develops other illnesses or symptoms, it is important to contact your pediatrician for evaluation and further testing if necessary.
Is jaundice dangerous in a baby?
Physiological jaundice in newborns usually does not pose a serious danger and goes away on its own within a few weeks. It is common in infants and does not require special treatment. However, in some cases, jaundice can become dangerous, especially if the level of bilirubin in the blood is too high or if it is pathological rather than physiological jaundice.
Pathological jaundice can be caused by various reasons, such as improper functioning of the liver, hematopoietic disorders, genetic factors or blood incompatibility between mother and child. In such cases, bilirubin levels can rise to dangerous levels and cause serious complications such as kernicterus, which can affect the baby’s nervous system.
If your newborn develops jaundice, it is important to monitor its development and promptly contact your pediatrician to evaluate the baby’s condition. The doctor will test your bilirubin levels and determine whether the jaundice is physiological or pathological. In some cases, additional treatment such as phototherapy (treatment with special lights) or exchange transfusions may be needed to lower bilirubin levels and prevent complications.
Therefore, although physiological jaundice is usually not dangerous, it is important to monitor the baby’s condition and consult with a pediatrician to ensure that bilirubin levels are within safe limits and no additional measures are required.
Does jaundice require treatment?
Physiological jaundice in newborns usually does not require special treatment, since it is common and goes away on its own within a few weeks. This is because the level of bilirubin, which causes jaundice, decreases as the baby’s liver becomes more efficient at processing and eliminating this pigment from the body.
In most cases, physiological jaundice in newborns does not require treatment. However, there are a few important points to consider:
- medical supervision. Even if the jaundice is physiological, it is important to contact your pediatrician to evaluate the baby’s condition and measure the level of bilirubin in the blood. The doctor will determine how high your bilirubin level is and decide whether additional measures are needed;
- increasing milk consumption. Frequent breastfeeding can help reduce an infant’s bilirubin levels. Breast milk contains special factors that help speed up the removal of bilirubin from the body;
- phototherapy. In some cases, if bilirubin levels reach high levels, phototherapy may be required. This is a procedure in which the baby is placed under special lights that help break down excess bilirubin;
- exchange transfusions. In rare cases, if the bilirubin level is too high and poses a risk to the baby’s health, exchange transfusions may be needed to replace the baby’s blood with particles containing normal bilirubin levels.
However, we emphasize that in most cases, physiological jaundice in newborns is not dangerous and passes without any complications. It is important to follow your pediatrician’s recommendations and conduct medical supervision to ensure that the baby is in good health and that bilirubin levels are not dangerous.
