Beware of pathological jaundice in newborns

When bilirubin, a product of erythrocyte degradation in the blood, deposits in the skin and mucosa will cause jaundice - mucosa.

Treatment of child jaundice with 'phototherapy' at the neonatal emergency room of Tuyen Quang General Hospital. (Photo: Youth) Jaundice has many causes. Children of any age can get jaundice, especially newborns.

Here are some common causes:

Physiological jaundice: Usually occurs from day 2 to day 4 after delivery and within 10 days. If jaundice lasts more than 3 weeks is usually not physiological jaundice, it is necessary to find other pathological causes. Physiological jaundice does not require treatment.

Jaundice due to infection: The most common in newborns is umbilical cord infection, skin infection. Jaundice may appear sooner or later. Children often have fever (sometimes hypothermia), yellow urine, weak crying, poor feeding, vomiting, diarrhea. In this case, the child should continue to breastfeed as much as possible. Children should be treated with specific antibiotics and symptomatic treatment for children at medical facilities as directed by the physician. The most effective way to prevent disease is to practice a good mode of sterilization when giving birth, taking care of the umbilical cord, not allowing the umbilical cord to become infected.

Jaundice caused by syphilis: The child has syphilis from the mother. Symptoms usually appear after birth. Jaundice is usually mild but prolonged, with large, enlarged spleen. Children may have symptoms of genetic syphilis. An important factor for diagnosis is based on the history of the parents' illness. When there are signs of suspicion, the child should be taken to medical facilities for diagnosis and treatment. If detected early and treated promptly, the disease will progress well.

Jaundice caused by viruses: Mostly caused by viruses that cause mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis through pregnancy. The usual manifestations are prolonged jaundice, yellow urine, sometimes white feces, enlarged liver. Children should be taken to medical facilities for examination, treatment and counseling as other viral hepatitis cases.

Hemolytic jaundice due to Rh factor disagreement: The disease occurs when the mother has Rh factor (-), the father has Rh factor (+), the child is born with Rh (+) factor. In this case, when the mother is pregnant, some red blood cells of the fetus Rh (+) cross the placenta into Rh's mother's blood (-). The mother's body reacts by producing antibodies against Rh (+). These antibodies pass through the placenta into the body of the fetus and cause bleeding. The frequency of this disease depends on the proportion of women with Rh (-).

In our country, very few women have Rh (-) so this disease is very rare. The disease is more common in pigs than in the offspring. Jaundice appears in the first days after birth and lasts for several weeks. Accompanied by manifestations of anemia, hemorrhage, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly.

In case of yellowing of the skin, the patient has neurological manifestations such as stiffness of the jaw, stiffness, cyanosis. These cases are often severe, easy to die. Children need to be treated at intensive pediatric centers with 'blood transfusion' and intensive care. When a Rh-disagreement is found, the mother needs to be monitored and advised by specialist physicians.

Hemolytic jaundice due to blood type disagreement A, B, O: Usually due to mother O blood group, child carries group A, sometimes group B. The disease is more common if caused by Rh factor but rarely cause yellow human skin The disease progresses well with treatment.

Jaundice due to congenital biliary obstruction: Causes of biliary tract atrophy at different levels. Average jaundice appears in the second week after giving birth. Jaundice is dark, continuous, with discolored stool, dark urine, enlarged liver, and enlarged spleen. Patients should be identified early and treated with surgery. Early surgery should be performed before signs of liver fibrosis.