Contents:
- Medical Video: The color of your urine says a lot about your health, this is what your color means
- Normal yellow baby condition
- The condition of a dangerous yellow baby
- When should a yellow baby be seen by a doctor immediately?
Medical Video: The color of your urine says a lot about your health, this is what your color means
The situation when your baby is yellow is also called jaundice. Jaundice often experienced in newborns. The yellow that can be seen on your baby's skin and eyes is caused by the accumulation of unconjugated bilirubin (the color pigment produced by the breakdown of hemoglobin in red blood cells).
In most infants, the accumulation of bilirubin is a normal condition. But if the amount is very large, the accumulation of bilirubin can circulate to the brain (kernicterus) and is a very dangerous situation.
Normal yellow baby condition
Jaundice normal (jaundice physiological) caused by the function of the baby's heart which is not functioning properly. The liver has an important role in bilirubin metabolism. The type of bilirubin that causes it jaundice this is called unconjugated bilirubin, or indirect bilirubin. This unconjugated bilirubin will be converted to a conjugated form in the liver so that it is easily removed from the body.
Because newborns still have imperfect liver function, the bilirubin is not completely conjugated and removed from the body. Usually jaundice physiological appear when the baby is 24-72 hours. You don't need to worry if your baby is experiencing jaundice physiology because this condition is normal in infants.
The condition of a dangerous yellow baby
Jaundice which is not normal (jaundice pathological) caused by other non-physiological conditions, such as diseases that cause excessive hemoglobin breakdown. For example, hemolytic anemia, differences in blood groups that cause ABO or rhesus incompatibility, and lack of enzymes (G6PD).
Babies born prematurely, babies who experience blockages in the gastrointestinal tract, and babies who experience bleeding can also suffer jaundice pathological. In this situation, the baby will look yellow directly in the first 24 hours of life.
In addition, if the baby is still yellow until the age of 1-2 weeks, you also need to be aware of any diseases that cause your baby to yellow. Usually it will be checked for bilirubin levels in infants who experience it jaundice. In babies with jaundice pathological, the bilirubin level will be greatly increased.
When should a yellow baby be seen by a doctor immediately?
Keep in mind, even though your baby is yellow, usually the baby is experiencing it jaundice physiological causes no symptoms. Here are the things to watch out for if your baby is yellow.
- It still looks yellow after one week and the yellow color continues to spread to the arms or legs.
- Looks sick and weak.
- Do not want to eat.
- Fussy and crying all the time.
- Have "plywood" arms and legs (floppy arms and legs).
- Fever with a temperature of 38 degrees C or more.
- Seizures.
- Difficulty breathing and looking blue.
If you find these signs in your yellow baby, then you should immediately take him to the doctor to find the cause and deal with it further.
