Do you know that all babies have tendencies to develop some complications of jaundice right after they are born? Well, practically speaking, 6 out of every 10 newborns are diagnosed with jaundice. The condition of Jaundice in Babies is frequently found in case of premature birth. All babies show this tendency to some extent and a baby if otherwise hale and hearty, then a minor hepatitis is nothing to worry about. The phenomenon of Jaundice in Babies is mainly due to the high level of bilirubin, a liver metabolite, in their bodies.
Bilirubin is a chemical metabolite that is produced as a byproduct when the older red blood corpuscles are broken down in the body of a baby to minor components. The liver of the baby when still inside the mother's womb remain non functional and can't do away with the bilirubin that accumulates in it as waste. This function is done by the mother's liver and the bilirubin is sent through the umbilical cord from the baby to the mother. Even after birth the baby liver takes some time to function properly and fails to salvage the excess bilirubin. This accumulated bilirubin can cause Jaundice in Babies.
The condition of Jaundice due to high bilirubin in babies is not a serious issue. Normally this subsides after a week or so. However if the bilirubin level is too high or the baby showing the signs of hepatitis is prematurely born, then there can be causes for concern and medical attention is sought for. There can be still other causes of Jaundice in Babies. The complication can develop if the mother's breasts produce lesser quantities of colostrum during the first week after birth. The low levels of colostrum impede the proper functioning of the infant's liver leading to accumulation of excessive quantities of bilirubin, causing breast milk jaundice.
Incompatibilities in the Rhesus factor or the ABO group of antibodies can be a root cause of Jaundice in Babies. This normally occurs during pre-birth, when the mother's antibodies fail to recognize the red blood cells of the baby and start destroying them. This leads to severe anemia in the newborn, often causing jaundice immediately after birth. Hemolytic anemia is newborns can be a major causative factor of Jaundice in Babies. Hemolytic Anemia causes auto immune disorders that indulge the antibodies in the baby's blood to destroy the mass of red blood cells making way for over accumulation of bilirubin and consequently acute neonatal jaundice. Galactosemia, a condition that arises due to the malfunctioning of an enzyme needed to break galactose, causes cirrhosis of the liver and ultimately Jaundice in Babies.
For effective treatment of Jaundice in Babies, an early detection is necessary. There are a host of different physical examinations that can be done, such as blood tests, liver biopsies, ultrasound scans and exploratory surgery to detect the disease. There are different modes of treatment for Jaundice in infants and each is based on the reason of occurrence. Phototherapy is the best treatment for reducing the bilirubin content in the skin for reducing the risks of breast milk jaundice. The best prevention for neonatal Jaundice in Babies is to prescribe vitamin supplements and drugs to improve the flow of bile. For nullifying the Jaundice caused due to Galactosemia, the only way is to stop the breast feeding and implement formula feed for the infants.
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For more information on Jaundice in Babies and related issues on this dreaded malady in infants please stay with us at Common Health Problems of the Baby in pregnancyxl.com.
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