What Causes Yellow Disease in Newborns?

Medical Video: What is Jaundice in Newborns?

Have you ever seen a yellow newborn skin? Or, might your newborn child experience this? However, you should not worry. This is normal for newborns. About 60% of newborns have a slightly yellowish skin color. This is commonly called jaundice or jaundice or jaundice in infants.

What is jaundice?

Jaundice or jaundice or in Indonesia better known as jaundice in infants is a change in color in the skin and eyes of a newborn baby to yellow. Jaundice is common in newborns, especially in premature babies and babies who experience fluid insufficiency.

Jaundice can disappear on its own or with mild treatment for one or two weeks. Or, it can also take up to two months for premature babies. However, jaundice can also be a more serious disease, in very rare cases. Severe or untreated jaundice can cause brain damage called kernicterus. This can cause serious lifelong problems.

What causes jaundice?

Jaundice occurs because the baby's blood has excess bilirubin, the yellow pigment in red blood cells. Bilirubin is a by-product made when the body breaks down old red blood cells. This bilirubin will be removed from the blood by the liver and will eventually be released by the body through feces.

When the baby is still in the womb, the task is carried out by the mother's liver. However, after the baby is born, the baby must do the work himself. Well, because a new baby is born, the baby's heart still needs time to start the new job, so it's not ready to break down bilirubin. Finally, bilirubin accumulates in the baby's blood and causes the baby's skin and eyes to turn yellow.

In premature babies, of course the liver is not mature, so it is more likely to experience jaundice. Jaundice is also more likely to occur in infants who experience fluid insufficiency. This can happen because insufficient fluids can cause blood bilirubin levels to increase, causing jaundice.

Jaundice can also be caused by other things, such as infections, enzyme deficiencies, problems in the digestive system of the baby (especially the liver), or problems with the blood type of the mother and baby (Rh incompatibility), but this rarely happens. Your baby may experience this problem if jaundice appears less than one day after birth. In healthy babies, jaundice usually only appears a few days (2/3 days) after the baby is born.

Jaundice caused by the problem of rhesus (Rh) maternal blood occurs because mothers and babies have different types of blood, so the mother's body will produce antibodies that can fight the baby's red blood cells. This will also cause accumulation of bilirubin in the baby's blood. Actually, this can be prevented by giving the mother an injection of Rh immune-globulin.

What can be a sign of jaundice?

Babies who have jaundice will show signs such as:

The baby's skin color will turn yellow, first it will start from the face, then the chest, abdomen, and legs
The white part of the baby's eyes will also turn yellow

To find out, you can gently press the baby's forehead or nose. If the baby's skin you press looks yellow afterwards, maybe your baby has mild jaundice.

Babies who have high levels of bilirubin in the blood, usually will also show signs such as not being able to suck the mother's breast properly (the suction is slower), the baby becomes fussy or anxious, and can cry in a high tone.

What is the cure for jaundice?

Most jaundice can heal by itself so there is no need for treatment. You can help reduce jaundice in infants by fulfilling the baby's nutritional needs. Giving your baby adequate intake can help the baby's body work in removing excess bilirubin. Make sure you feed your baby at least 8-12 times a day.

However, some babies with jaundice also need to receive treatment. Babies with jaundice can be treated with light therapy (phototherapy), this is very safe and effective. The baby will be placed in a baby crib illuminated with blue ultraviolet light. This ultraviolet light will be absorbed by the baby's skin which will help convert bilirubin into a form that is easier to be removed by the baby's body through urine. When illuminated, the baby's body is not covered by anything (naked), but the baby's eyes are covered with an eye patch.

Phototherapy is quite effective in treating jaundice in infants. However, if a baby with jaundice continues to experience elevated bilirubin levels even after phototherapy, intensive care may be needed for the baby. Babies may need a blood transfusion that can replace the baby's blood containing high levels of bilirubin with donor blood containing normal bilirubin levels.

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