What is it about ?
Jaundice (jaundice) is characterized by yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes. It occurs when there is too much bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment that results from the breakdown of red blood cells. The liver removes bilirubin from the blood. It concentrates bilirubin in the bile. The bile is then stored in the gallbladder. Most bilirubin is passed from the body through the stool, and a small amount is passed from the body through the urine.
At birth, the baby has too many red blood cells. They degrade during the first week of life. The production of bilirubin is therefore high. Since the functioning of the liver is not yet optimal in newborns, bilirubin increases in the blood. It is deposited in the skin and the white of the eye during the first days after birth: it is the jaundice of the newborn (neonatal jaundice). In general, this is a normal manifestation in the development of the newborn. This is why we speak of physiological jaundice. This jaundice goes away within 1 to 2 weeks.
However, jaundice in newborns can also be a sign of a disease, trivial or serious. Usually, it is harmless and is caused by breast milk at the start of breastfeeding or by the evacuation (absorption) of bruises that appeared during childbirth. Jaundice can also be caused by a urinary tract infection or an inherited condition that prevents the baby from breaking down bilirubin. Finally, it is possible that the blood groups of the mother and the baby are not compatible. In this case, the mother breaks down the baby’s blood.
What is its frequency?
Jaundice occurs in 6 out of 10 newborns. It is more common in premature babies.
How to recognize it?
The whites of the eyes and the skin turn yellow. In severe cases, the baby may be tired and have trouble drinking. As a result, his weight increases more slowly.
Usually, the yellow discoloration disappears on its own within 1 to 2 weeks. It may take a little longer with breastfeeding, but with this form of feeding the baby will eat well and recover well.
Untreated jaundice can cause the level of bilirubin in the blood to increase to very high levels, damaging the brain and central nervous system. But this is rare.
How is the diagnosis made?
The diagnosis of jaundice is usually already made by the pediatrician in the maternity hospital. He will then measure the concentration of bilirubin in the blood. The incompatibility of the mother’s and child’s blood groups is usually already known during pregnancy (by a screening blood test).
What can you do ?
Keep an eye on your baby’s progress and follow the evolution of his weight. The midwife, general practitioner or pediatrician can help you.
What can your doctor do?
Usually it is unnecessary to process. Depending on the results of the blood test, the baby may be treated with blue light (phototherapy). This procedure improves the breakdown of bilirubin.
If the blood groups are incompatible, the mother is given an injection immediately after childbirth. This procedure prevents the mother from breaking down the baby’s red blood cells during a future pregnancy. Sometimes it is necessary to give blood to the baby (transfusion exchange).
Want to know more?
Source
Foreign clinical practice guide ‘Neonatal jaundice’ (2006), updated 06/22/2016 – ebpracticenet