Jaundice: Causes, signs and treatment

Jaundice is the health condition that turns a child’s skin and sclera into yellow, due to high bilirubin levels in the blood. Bilirubin is the substance that the body produces while breaking down old red cells.

Generally speaking, jaundice is not a serious problem. But in some rare cases, too much bilirubin in the blood can lead to brain damage or kernicterus which may in turn, cause cognitive disability, hearing loss and other problems.

When jaundice appears in perfectly healthy child, it will probably develop symptoms between the second and fourth day. But the child will quickly get better, and symptoms will go away for good within 2 to 3 weeks maximum, and without any consequence.

In some children, they may get jaundice that lasts between 10 to 14 days. Some of them may recover from the illness but then have a return of symptoms after a while. Either case, jaundice won’t be a problem, as long as they are regularly having enough nutrition.

As mentioned earlier, jaundice is triggered by an increase of bilirubin levels in the blood. This increase is due to growing child’s body not capable of getting rid of the bilirubin properly.

In rare cases, elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood can either be caused by an infection, a digestive problem or a blood type incompatibility between the child and his mother.

Jaundice symptoms include yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, as well as dullness, fussiness and high-pitched cry.

Treatment of jaundice isn’t often necessary, and symptoms can go away on their own after few days, although there is some kind of phototherapy that incites child’s skin to absorb the light, change the bilirubin levels in the blood and stimulate the body to get rid of the excess amounts of urine and stool.

So don’t panic if your child gets jaundice. His/her problem is quite ordinary and will soon recover. The most important thing is that you monitor the symptoms and keep your little ones under medical supervision!
 

Jaundice in newborns causes yellowing of the skin and eyes due to high bilirubin levels from red blood cell breakdown. It typically appears between the second and fourth day of life and resolves within 2 to 3 weeks. Though usually harmless, very high bilirubin can lead to serious issues like brain damage.

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