Jaundice in children

Jaundice is a disease in which almost all the patient’s tissues turn yellowish. This happens due to the increased formation of bilirubin, a yellow coloring pigment secreted by bile. Read this article about how to recognize this disease and cure it.

Symptoms of jaundice in children

In babies, jaundiced skin color is considered the first sign of liver problems, as well as a consequence of some problems with the circulatory system. Bilirubin, which causes the skin and mucous membranes to turn yellow, is formed due to the breakdown of hemoglobin. In a healthy person, bilirubin is excreted along with feces, but in liver diseases it can accumulate. Its excess is sent to the kidneys and skin, which puts additional stress on the body.

In babies, the appearance of jaundice can be associated with various pathologies or explained by physiological features. Physiological jaundice occurs only in newborns. It goes away within the first month of life. Pathological jaundice is associated with a disease and is characterized by a very severe course.

Signs of jaundice cannot be confused with manifestations of other diseases. The main symptom is a yellowish discoloration of the skin. In addition, there are other manifestations of the disease:

• Headache
• Fever and chills.
• Weight loss.
• Refusal of food.
• Dyspeptic disorders.
• Symptoms poisoning– vomiting, nausea and muscle pain.
• Itching of the skin.
• Urine takes on a dark tint.
• The feces become very light.

Jaundice in newborns

Recent studies by specialists have shown that jaundice in newborns in most cases is a normal condition and is explained by the adaptation of the baby’s body after birth to new conditions. But at the same time, there are cases when such a condition can be dangerous.

Approximately two-thirds of newborn babies have yellow skin within a few days after birth. The fact is that in the womb, oxygen was delivered to the cells of the baby’s body by red blood cells. With birth, the need for this method of oxygen saturation disappeared. Therefore, excess hemoglobin is destroyed, which leads to increased formation of bilirubin. The withdrawal process takes several days or even stretches for several weeks.

The baby’s excretory system is continuously improving, and after two or maximum three weeks the jaundiced tint of the skin disappears. Physiological jaundice is not dangerous for a baby and does not have any bad consequences. But sometimes there are cases when jaundice requires the help of a doctor.

Treatment of jaundice in children

With an increased concentration of bilirubin in the baby’s blood, experts previously prescribed a whole range of measures, which consisted of administering medications that increase the activity of liver enzymes. Now jaundice is treated with a simpler, but very effective method. The baby is irradiated with special lamps with LEDs. The light wave transforms bilirubin into lumirubin, which is highly soluble in liquid and excreted in the urine.

This method of treatment is absolutely harmless for the child and allows you to cope with jaundice in a matter of days. But not all maternity hospitals in our country are equipped with modern devices, so we have to resort to old methods of treatment.

In older children, jaundice due to a viral infection occurs. This disease is called hepatitis. Most often, children become infected with hepatitis A or, as it is also called, Botkin's disease. This disease is transmitted through food or breast milk, saliva or blood. In this case, the child experiences all the symptoms described above.

In the case of infectious type jaundice, the treatment process must necessarily take place in a hospital setting. The baby must remain in bed and eat exclusively special dietary foods. In this case, all spicy foods, fried and smoked, are strictly prohibited. The child should receive only plant-based fats, as well as protein foods and easily digestible carbohydrates. Such products include oatmeal, cottage cheese, compotes, honey and fruit drinks.

To eliminate poisoning of the body, the baby is prescribed enterosorbents. To activate the flow of bile, choleretic drugs are used. Vitamin and mineral complexes used to enhance metabolism in the liver. In addition, a set of antiviral measures is carried out under the close supervision of a doctor. After completion of treatment, the child is contraindicated in any physical activity for another six months.

Consequences of jaundice in children

The condition, explained by physiological reasons, usually resolves without any complications and does not pose a threat to the child’s health. Within a month this disease goes away. Otherwise, it is necessary to conduct a thorough examination of the baby. If the cause of the disease is pathology, then the consequences can be very serious. This condition requires mandatory medical intervention.

Pathological jaundice lasts more than a month. In this case, the child’s liver and spleen are larger than normal in size. This is easy to detect upon direct inspection. If timely measures are not taken, the baby may develop poisoning due to the high concentration of bilirubin. Against the background of this condition, there is a high probability of developing bilirubin encephalopathy or a delay in the development of the baby’s psyche, which will become noticeable later.

High bilirubin levels can lead to albuminemia, and high permeability of blood vessels in this case will further aggravate the situation. When bilirubin enters the brain, kernicterus occurs. This leads to uncontrollable spasms, deafness and brain damage. In this case, the baby loses the ability to control his movements, he experiences frequent and involuntary contractions of the muscles of the whole body. Brain damage can lead to mental retardation and mental retardation.

If the disease is pathological, recovery occurs only if the disease is detected in a timely manner and treated thoroughly. The physical condition of the baby also matters. A full-term baby who receives adequate breastfeeding will recover much faster than premature.