Introduction
The skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow in newborn babies with neonatal jaundice, which is a common condition. It happens when the liver is unable to properly break down the substance bilirubin, which is created during the destruction of red blood cells. Neonatal jaundice typically does not cause any harm and resolves on its own within a few weeks, but in some instances, it may need medical attention. To assist parents and other caregivers in understanding and managing neonatal jaundice, we will cover its causes, signs, and possible treatments in this blog post, including the use of light therapy.
Causes of Neonatal Jaundice
There are many causes of neonatal jaundice, some of which are listed below:
- Physiological Jaundice: This is the most common cause of neonatal jaundice and occurs in approximately 60% of full-term newborns and 80% of premature newborns. It is brought on by a developing liver that cannot effectively break down bilirubin.
- Jaundice from breastfeeding: When a baby isn’t receiving enough breast milk, it can cause dehydration and an increase in bilirubin levels.
- Breast Milk Jaundice: Breast milk jaundice happens when specific elements in breast milk stop the liver from properly processing bilirubin.
- Blood group compatibility: If the mother’s and the baby’s blood groups are incompatible, the baby’s red blood cells may break down, raising the baby’s bilirubin levels.
- Infection: Certain infections such as sepsis, meningitis, or urinary tract infections can cause neonatal jaundice.
- Metabolic Disorders: Rare metabolic disorders such as galactosemia, hypothyroidism, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency can lead to neonatal jaundice.
- Read more from this blog post for further details
To choose the best course of action for treatment, it is crucial to determine the underlying cause of neonatal jaundice.
Neonatal Jaundice Symptoms
Yellowing of the skin and eye whites, which typically appears within the first few days after birth, is the most typical sign of neonatal jaundice. There are various additional signs of neonatal jaundice, such as:
- Poor feeding: Jaundice in babies can cause them to become lethargic and have trouble eating, which can cause dehydration.
- High-pitched cry: Some infants with jaundice may cry loudly out of discomfort.
- Jaundiced infants may have dark urine as a result of the high levels of bilirubin in their blood.
- Pale stools: Babies with jaundice may have stools that are white or pale in color.
- Infants with severe jaundice may experience extreme sleepiness and have trouble being awakened.
- Read more from this blog post for further details
While neonatal jaundice is a common condition and frequently goes away on its own, severe jaundice can be dangerous and necessitate medical attention. Always keep an eye on your baby’s symptoms and seek medical help if you have any concerns that your baby may have severe jaundice.
Neonatal Jaundice Treatment
Neonatal jaundice usually goes away on its own within a few weeks, so treatment is rarely necessary. Treatment, however, might be required in cases of severe jaundice or underlying medical conditions. Neonatal jaundice is commonly treated with the following methods:
- Phototherapy: This treatment involves placing the baby under special blue lights that help break down bilirubin in the skin. The treatment can last anywhere from a few hours to several days, and the baby’s eyes are covered to shield them from the light.
- Exchange transfusion: This procedure may be required in extreme jaundice cases. This involves replacing the infant’s blood with donor blood, which can aid in clearing the bloodstream of extra bilirubin.
- Increased feeding: When a baby is nursing with jaundice, increasing the frequency of feedings can help ensure that the infant is receiving enough milk and keep him or her from becoming dehydrated.
- Medication: Some drugs, like phenobarbital, may be prescribed to aid the liver’s ability to process bilirubin more effectively.
- Treatment of underlying conditions: If an underlying medical condition, such as an infection or a metabolic disorder, contributed to the neonatal jaundice, treating the underlying condition is necessary to alleviate the jaundice.
- Read more from this blog post for further details
A healthcare professional should always be consulted by parents and caregivers to decide the best course of action for their baby’s neonatal jaundice.
Light Therapy for Neonatal Jaundice
A typical therapy for neonatal jaundice is light therapy, also referred to as phototherapy. It entails exposing the infant to particular blue lights that aid in the skin’s bilirubin breakdown. The bilirubin is changed by the light so that it can be quickly eliminated from the body through the urine and stools.
The infant is undressed and placed in a bassinet or crib with a light source above or nearby during phototherapy. The infant’s eyes are covered to shield them from the light, and the condition of their skin is checked for any signs of itchiness or harm. Depending on the level of jaundice, the course of treatment can last anywhere between a few hours and several days.
There are various kinds of light therapy, such as conventional phototherapy, in which the infant is exposed to blue lights, and fiber-optic phototherapy, in which the infant’s skin is directly exposed to tiny, flexible fibers that emit light. To treat severe jaundice, a combination of the two types of phototherapy may be used in some circumstances.
Neonatal jaundice can usually be treated safely and effectively with phototherapy, and infants typically tolerate it well. However, it is crucial to keep an eye out for any irritation or burns on the baby’s skin and to make sure they are receiving enough nutrition and hydration while undergoing treatment.
In order to determine the best course of action for their baby’s neonatal jaundice and to track the baby’s response to that treatment, parents and caregivers should always consult with a healthcare professional.
Conclusion
Finally, neonatal jaundice is a widespread condition that many newborns experience. The majority of the time, it is a harmless condition that goes away on its own within a few weeks, despite the fact that it can be worrying for parents and caregivers. Treatment, however, might be required in some circumstances, such as severe jaundice or underlying medical conditions.
Neonatal jaundice is frequently treated with light therapy, also known as phototherapy, which involves exposing the infant to special blue lights that aid in the breakdown of bilirubin in the skin. Increased feedings, medications, or exchange transfusions are a few additional treatment options.
Parents and other caregivers should keep an eye on their child’s symptoms and seek medical help if they think the child may have severe jaundice. Most cases of neonatal jaundice can be effectively managed with the right care and observation, and infants can go on to thrive and develop normally.
Overall, neonatal jaundice can be concerning, but it is a condition that can be successfully managed with prompt attention and the right treatment, and the majority of infants go on to lead happy, healthy lives.