Jaundice in newborns: causes and consequences, diagnosis and treatment

Parents are very sensitive to the health of their children. Especially when it comes to newborns. But what if the crumb, newly born, was diagnosed with a strange "jaundice"? Do not be scared of this word, because most often it characterizes the natural physiological process taking place in a young organism. So, let's examine what the jelly in the newborn is. The causes and consequences of this phenomenon are set forth in the article.

State characteristic

Jaundice in newborns, the causes and consequences of which are not clear to parents, causes some panic in moms. Therefore, we will first analyze what it is.

To understand why the skin of the child acquires an orange tint, it is necessary to remember the course of anatomy.

Human blood contains red cells. Their main function is to spread oxygen throughout the body. Such cells live for several months. Then they are destroyed. In the process of their disintegration, a specific pigment is produced in the body, which has a yellow color, bilirubin.

This substance is rendered harmless by the liver, after which it is removed from the human body. However, if the level of the pigment is increased, then failures can occur. It is in this case that there is such a phenomenon as a jaundice. Bilirubin is not completely eliminated from the body and colors the skin of the skin in yellow.

For an adult, this is a signal about the occurrence of serious diseases, which are based on the destruction of the liver. But for a newborn such a condition is a physiological, normal process. After all, the body crumbs only learns to function independently.

Causes of icterus

A similar condition is observed in almost 60% of newborn babies. The jaundice appears, as a rule, on the 2-3rd day after birth. It is more pronounced in preterm infants.

Above we have considered the mechanism of occurrence of such phenomenon, as a jaundice in newborns. The causes and consequences of this condition require more detailed study.

The jelly occurs as a result of the following factors:

1. In newborn infants, the blood contains an excess of red blood cells. In addition, red cells decay much faster than in an adult. That is why the baby is observed destruction of a large number of erythrocytes, resulting in the formation of free bilirubin.
2. It was said above that the pigment is excreted by the liver. To bilirubin out of the body, he must contact this body. In crumbs, the liver is not yet capable of completely providing such a transformation.
3. Bilirubin undergoes metamorphosis in the intestine under the action of normal microflora, and then is excreted in urine and feces. But, again, the children's organism only learns to adapt to independent functioning. The intestine is gradually colonized with microflora. That is why immediately withdraw bilirubin from the body, he is not able to.

As a result, the baby develops a physiological yellowing. This is absolutely not a dangerous condition for crumbs. But sometimes a newborn can show a pathological icicle. In this case, the infant needs adequate treatment.

Sources of pathological condition

Doctors say that the causes of such a jaundice can be hidden in the following:

• There is incompatibility of the blood of the child and mother in the group or the Rh factor;
• The infant's liver does not function properly;
• The baby has underdeveloped bile ducts;
• In the child's liver inflammation occurs.

Symptoms of physiological yellowing

The distinctive characteristics of the natural physiological process are such signs:

1. The jaundice manifests itself not earlier than 36 hours after the appearance of the baby in the light.
2. The maximum expression it reaches on the 3-5th day.
3. There is yellow staining of the skin of the face, neck, and chest. Cushions below the navel do not acquire an orange tinge.
4. A blood test shows high bilirubin. However, the level does not exceed 205 μmol / l.
5. The child's behavior is active. State of health, the general condition is not violated.

It is important to remember when the jelly in the newborn passes. In term infants, bilirubin begins to decrease on day 14. This is an important indicator that characterizes precisely the physiological process. In premature babies, bilirubin is declining by the 21st day.

However, it should be understood that sometimes there may be some deviations from the above norms. And while they do not always indicate the development in the body of a phenomenon such as pathological icicles.

Komarovsky argues that premature infants may experience an earlier manifestation of this condition. Often, these children yellowing occurs on the second day of life. In addition, Dr. Komarovsky points out that twins or children whose mothers have diabetes can experience a protracted jaundice.

All babies must be observed. Sometimes the physiological jaundice can go into a pathological form. And the latter condition requires timely treatment.

Signs of a pathological condition

What symptoms indicate a problem in the child's body? Unfortunately, the boundary between the pathological and physiological jaundice is very unstable. But still there are differences between them.

To suspect a pathological condition is possible on the following grounds:

1. Jaundice occurs within the first 24 hours after birth.
2. Skin coloration in yellow shade can be observed on the 7th day of the baby's life.
3. A blood test shows not only a high bilirubin, but also a rapid increase in it. A daily rate of more than 85 μmol / l is observed.
4. The baby's skin is colored yellow not only above, but also below the navel. Yellowness of the palms, feet.
5. The general condition of the baby is broken. The child is agitated or depressed.
6. The urine of the crumb becomes dark, and the stool becomes colorless.
7. The baby's jaundice is tightened and can be undulating.

What is the basis of pathology?

Such a state is capable of provoking the following factors:

• Prematurity, immaturity of the infant;
• Delay in fetal development during the intrauterine period;
• The mother's intake of a variety of drugs during pregnancy and childbirth;
• Extensive hemorrhages, cephalohematemata;
• Absence of breastfeeding;
• Large loss of weight to newborns;
• Pre-lactational feeding with a mixture.

And do not forget when the jelly passes through the newborns. The physiological process should not last more than 21 days. Therefore, if your baby after the above time and remains yellow, be sure to consult a doctor.

Possible consequences

Jaundice in newborns is most often a physiological condition. Therefore, it passes by itself, without any treatment and does not leave any consequences after itself.

But if the jaundice does not pass a month, or there are other signs indicating a pathological phenomenon, then a small patient needs adequate therapy.

Every day the condition of a crumb becomes worse. The skin of the baby becomes a greenish shade, the size of the liver and spleen can increase.

Without medical assistance serious complications can develop:

1. Toxic poisoning of the brain, nervous system.
2. A high level of bilirubin can lead to a decrease in albumin, resulting in the development of albuminemia.
3. If the pigment penetrates the brain, then the crumb will develop nuclear jaundice. This pathology can lead to deafness, frequent seizures, the infant's retardation in mental development.
4. The late stage of the disease is characterized by involuntary contractions of muscle tissue. The child may lose control of the motor functions.

At the same time, if the pathological condition is detected in the early stages and the timely treatment is carried out, then unpleasant consequences, as a rule, do not arise.

Diagnostics of the state

A single shade of the skin is not enough to confirm the presence of a jaundice. To make a diagnosis, the baby is given the following examinations:

• Tests of urine, blood;
• A study of the level of pigment in serum and blood;
• Ultrasound.

If necessary, the baby is referred for consultation to the endocrinologist, surgeon, cardiologist.

Infant treatment

Many pediatricians, both domestic and foreign, claim that in most cases the newborn does not need medical therapy.

A jaundice lasting about three weeks is not a disease. Therefore, this condition does not need treatment. A completely different picture is observed if the jaundice is characterized as a symptom of a serious ailment. The kid needs adequate therapy if bilirubin reaches a dangerous level in the body, and furthermore continues to grow.

Treatment of icterus depends on the level of pigment, the state of the baby, the cause of the development of pathology.

The child can be assigned the following activities:

• Phototherapy;
• Drug treatment;
• Blood transfusion (if there is a high risk of developing a nuclear jelly).

Phototherapy for babies

The simplest, but effective method that allows you to treat a yellowish is light therapy. Today it is very successfully practiced in almost all clinics.

For phototherapy, a special lamp is used from the jelly. The waves emitted by it stimulate the process of splitting bilirubin into non-toxic compounds. The latter after intensive therapy, lasting about 10-12 hours, are excreted from the body of the crumbs naturally (with urine and feces).

This method allows you to abandon medication. In addition, he does not require the separation of the child from the mother. Consequently, breastfeeding is not interrupted.

The duration of phototherapy, as a rule, takes about 96 hours.

Medication Therapy

If the level of bilirubin significantly exceeds the threshold, or the effect of phototherapy is insignificant, the baby is prescribed medicines.

Medication therapy consists of:

1. Of choleretic preparations. Recommended remedies that improve the functioning of the liver and remove from the body excess bile. The newborn is prescribed medicines: Ursofalk, Hofitol. Both one and the second medication are allowed for use from the first days of life. However, the drug "Hofitol" is preferable, since the drug "Ursofalk" contains many additional components (preservatives, flavorings) that can provoke an allergy.
2. Sorbents. Preparations bind toxic substances, slags and remove them from a small organism. The newborn can be prescribed drugs "Smecta", "Enterosgel", activated charcoal. As a rule, preference is given to the first medicine. From the drug "Smecta", produced in the form of powder, it is easy to make a suspension for the baby. In addition, this natural sorbent is absolutely safe for babies.
3. Vitamin Complexes.

Home Treatment

If the child has a physiological yellowing, then, as mentioned above, the infant does not need therapy. Therefore, mother and baby will be discharged from the hospital home. However, you can help the baby to cope with this condition more quickly.

Treatment of jelly at home includes such activities:

1. Sunbathing. Give the child the opportunity to sunbathe. The sun is the best healer. Under its influence, bilirubin is destroyed. But remember that a small one should not stay under direct sunlight for a long time, so that burns do not appear on the tender baby skin.
2. Diet. Nursing mother should strictly monitor their food. It is recommended to completely exclude food from food that has a pronounced taste. Refuse the pickles, smoked products. It is better to base your diet on vegetables, fruits. Do not forget about the drinking regime. A nursing woman should drink about 2 liters of water per day.
3. Broth of dogrose. The drink perfectly normalizes digestion and stimulates the release of harmful substances. Decoction can be consumed by the mother herself. A drink is also allowed for babies.

Conclusion

Now you know what the yellowing of newborns is. The causes and consequences of this condition are also known to you. Most often orange skin tones indicate the occurrence of a natural phenomenon. Despite this, the baby needs careful monitoring. With any worsening, you should immediately react. Only in this way it is possible to save the baby from serious consequences.