Symptom of jaundice in newborns: types and signs of hepatitis

Several types of hepatitis are known in science. All of them have identical signs - icteric color of an integument. In rare cases, this ailment can be of an animal-free nature. To determine hepatitis in a child, you need to know the symptom of jaundice.

In today's article, we will talk about the first manifestations of this infectious disease. Hepatitis (jaundice) is characterized by yellowing of the sclera of the eyes, skin, and oral mucosa. This is due to an increase in the level of bilirubin in the blood of the child. Diagnosis can only be done by a qualified physician based on research methods.

The physiological form of hepatitis in newborns

Physiological jaundice appears in the first days of the baby's life. This is due to the immaturity of the liver. In the body of a newborn, there are not enough enzymes that bind bilirubin. The symptom of jaundice is characterized by drowsiness, rarely vomiting, yellowing of the eye proteins, convulsions and a decrease in the sucking reflex. In later stages, deafness, mental retardation and paralysis may appear.

Usually after a few weeks, these manifestations disappear without a trace. Specialists around the world are reluctant to treat physiological jaundice, claiming that this condition does not harm the baby. In rare cases, with high bilirubin indices, light therapy is used to reduce the toxicity of this specific substance.

Hemolytic jaundice in infants

It arises as a result of the immunological conflict between mother and child. This occurs when a woman lacks a specific antigen that the fetus has. Hemolytic disease is observed at an early stage (in the early days of birth) and may persist for several months. The symptom of jaundice is manifested by staining the sclera of the eyes, enlarging the spleen and liver.

The color of the baby's skin becomes bright yellow. If anemia is present, the baby looks very pale, in this case jaundice does not seem too bright. Transfusion is used as a therapy.

Types of hepatitis in adult children

There are 3 types of viral hepatitis: A (Botkin's disease), B (serum type) and C (dangerous mutating virus). Each form has its manifestations and incubation period. The most common disease is hepatitis A. The pancreas period is observed for about 7 days. This disease is cured (jaundice). Symptoms of this type of disease in a child are as follows:

- weakness, aches in the body, migraines;

- a sharp increase in temperature;

Fever (chills);

- Pain in the right side;

- bitterness in the mouth;

- vomiting, diarrhea;

- lack of appetite;

- itching on the skin;

- darkening of urine, fecal decoloration;

- yellowing of the oral mucosa, eye proteins and skin.

Hepatitis B (serum type) has an identical clinical picture with form A. In children, most often the infection is asymptomatic. A symptom of jaundice type B is characterized by a rash of red rash, bleeding gums and a significant increase in the spleen and liver. Jaundice can last up to three weeks. The outcome of treatment is favorable, but the recovery period is quite long - about 3 months.

The most insidious and dangerous among all types is hepatitis C, which can be in the human body for several years in a latent form (without manifestations). The first signs are:

- general weakness;

- bad condition;

- decreased appetite;

- Sluggishness and easy staining of sclera.

It should be noted that more than half of the patients enter the chronic stage. Therefore, at the slightest manifestations, it is necessary to take tests and, when confirming the diagnosis, begin treatment, since serious complications (cancer and cirrhosis of the liver) can cause jaundice.

Symptoms and treatment of hepatitis

We described the clinical manifestations. It must be remembered that the first sign of any hepatitis is the yellowness of the skin and of the eye proteins. Therapy in newborns and small children is carried out under the strict supervision of a physician. Obligatory is the diet, the intake of vitamin complexes, choleretic preparations and enterosorbents, which help to remove signs of intoxication. After recovery, the child is prohibited from exercising for six months.