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Infant jaundice information Infant jaundice is a very common condition affecting several newborn babies every year. When a baby suffers from jaundice, it leads to a yellow discoloration of the baby’s eyes and skin. It has been seen that children who are born before the completion of the 36th gestation week are more prone to infant jaundice. When health experts are asked about infant jaundice information, such as its causes, they claim that it is the excess in the levels of bilirubin in the baby’s blood that leads to this condition in newborns. In premature babies there is a strong possibility that their livers have not developed enough to get remove bilirubin from their bloodstream.
However, according to infant jaundice information received by health experts, this condition could also be caused by an underlying problem, such as: • Hemorrhage or internal bleeding
• Incompatibility between the blood of the mother and the baby
• An abnormality in the red blood cells in the baby’s body
• Sepsis, which is an infection in the baby’s blood
• A malfunction in the liver
• Bacterial infections or viral infections
• The deficiency of a particular enzyme Jaundice symptoms Most infants display jaundice symptoms around 2 days or so, after they are born. The main symptom of jaundice in newborn babies as well as grown ups is a yellow tint to the skin and the white part of the eyes. The yellow discoloration of the skin usually first becomes evident on the baby’s face and then, if the condition persists, it may be noticed on other parts of the body, like the eyes, arms, chest, legs and abdomen. In order to confirm if the baby actually has jaundice or not, it is best to press a finger to the baby’s nose or forehead gently. If the skin still appears yellow after it has been pressed, then the baby probably does have jaundice. However, if the baby does not really have jaundice then the portion of the skin that had been pressed should turn lighter in color for a moment or two. While examining the baby, the lighting conditions should be proper. Natural daylight is perfect for checking the baby. When high bilirubin or jaundice levels are detected in a baby, then most hospitals tend to check the level of bilirubin in the baby’s blood on an hourly basis and the information is recorded on a bilirubin chart for infants. Parents may need to have follow-up appointments within a day or two, in case the baby is released, in spite of having jaundice. Jaundice treatment The treatment options used for this condition are based on the jaundice levels in the baby. As most mild cases of infant jaundice, go away on their own, within a period of two or three weeks, it may not be necessary to administer any form of infant jaundice treatment. However, if the baby is suffering from moderate or severe jaundice, then he or she may be required to stay in the hospital for a longer duration. In such cases, the infant jaundice treatment options used may include: • Phototherapy, also known as light therapy where the baby is placed in a crib, with special lighting. This light can alter the structure and the shape of the bilirubin molecules, making it possible for the baby to excrete them through urine or stools.
• Intravenous immunoglobulin in case the baby’s blood type is different from the mothers.
• Exchange blood transfusion may be given only in severe cases or when the baby does not seem to respond to any other form of treatment. Parents should try to get as much jaundice information as possible, from doctors, nurses and other medical healthcare providers that are looking after their child. There are also several online resources that carry a lot of details about jaundice information in infants.
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