A newborn baby develops infant jaundice, a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes, when there is an excess of bilirubin, a red blood cell pigment that is yellow in color.
Infant jaundice is a common problem, especially in preterm infants and some breastfed infants. Infant jaundice typically develops because a baby’s liver isn’t developed enough to get rid of bilirubin in the bloodstream. In some cases, an underlying disease may cause jaundice.
Although complications are uncommon, a high bilirubin level linked to severe infant jaundice or improperly treated jaundice may result in brain damage. Treatment of infant jaundice is often not necessary, and most cases that need treatment respond well to noninvasive therapy.
Bilirubin, the pigment released from the breakdown of “used” red blood cells that gives jaundice its characteristic yellow color, is a normal component of the pigment and excess bilirubin (hyperbilirubinemia) is the main cause of jaundice.
Jaundice caused by these typical newborn conditions is called physiologic jaundice, and it typically manifests on the second or third day of life. Normally, the liver filters bilirubin from the bloodstream and releases it into the intestinal tract. However, a newborn’s immature liver frequently struggles to remove bilirubin quickly enough, resulting in an excess of bilirubin.
Other causes
Jaundice can be brought on by a variety of illnesses or conditions, some of which can cause it to appear much earlier or much later than physiologic jaundice.
· Internal bleeding (hemorrhage)
A blood infection (sepsis) in your infant
• Additional bacterial or viral infections
Blood types from the mother and the child are incompatible.
· A liver malfunction
· An enzyme deficiency
A condition in which your child’s red blood cells break
Symptoms–Infant jaundice usually manifests between the second and fourth day following birth and is characterized by yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.
Gently press on your baby’s forehead or nose to check for infant jaundice; if the skin appears yellow where you pressed, your baby probably has mild jaundice; otherwise, the skin should appear momentarily lighter than usual.
Examine your infant in well-lit areas, ideally during the daytime.
Risk factors-Jaundice has a number of major risk factors, especially if it is severe and can result in complications.
Premature birth. Babies born before 38 weeks may not be able to process bilirubin as quickly as full-term babies do. Additionally, they may feed less and have fewer bowel movements, which results in less bilirubin being eliminated through stool.
Significant bruising during birth: If your baby has bruises from the delivery, this could indicate that there was more red blood cell breakdown, which would raise the bilirubin level.
Blood type: If the mother’s blood type differs from that of her child, the child may have absorbed antibodies through the placenta that speed up the breakdown of his or her blood cells.
Breast-feeding: Because of the benefits of breastfeeding, experts still advise it. It’s important to make sure your baby gets enough to eat and is adequately hydrated. Breast-fed babies are more likely to develop jaundice, especially those who have trouble nursing or getting enough nutrition from breast-feeding. Dehydration or a low calorie intake may also contribute to the development of jaundice.
Complications-
If severe jaundice brought on by high bilirubin levels is not treated, it can have serious side effects.
Acute bilirubin encephalopathy
Acute bilirubin encephalopathy is a condition where bilirubin enters the brain, which can cause significant long-term damage. Prompt treatment can help prevent this from happening if a baby has severe jaundice.
In a newborn with jaundice, the following symptoms could point to acute bilirubin encephalopathy:
· Listlessness or difficulty waking
· High-pitched crying
· Poor sucking or feeding
The body and neck arching backward
· Fever
· Vomiting
Kernicterus
Acute bilirubin encephalopathy can result in the syndrome known as kernicterus, which manifests as permanent brain damage.
Athetoid cerebral palsy, which causes uncontrollable and involuntary movements
· Permanent upward gaze
· Hearing loss
Inadequate tooth enamel development
HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
The symptoms of neonatal jaundice, also known as newborn jaundice, include yellow pigmentation of the skin and a slow heartbeat. **LUPULUS 30-**Lupulus is one of the most effective homeopathic treatments for this condition.
LYCOPODIUM CLAVATUM 30Another successful treatment for infantile jaundice is lycopodium, which is given to babies who are fussy, constipated, and have a gassy stomach. These symptoms are worse between the hours of 4 and 8 p.m.
ARNICA MONTANA 30The baby is bruised or swollen, and Arnica Montana is recommended for jaundice brought on by traumatic or difficult labor. Arnica should be administered right away to stop the onset of jaundice.
ACONITUM NAPELLUS 30Aconitum napellus is used in particular when the mother and/or baby are in shock following a challenging or unexpectedly brief labor for jaundice that appears acutely and suddenly.
CHAMOMILLA 30Jaundice that develops shortly after birth requires a specific treatment.
CHELEDONIUM MAJ. 30The liver and jaundice remedy cheledonium majus is well-known for causing pronounced lethargy and sluggish bowels.
Infant jaundice can be treated successfully with MERCURIUS SOL 30, which should be administered if the condition is not resolved within a week.
Chica should be administered following Merc. sol as another effective treatment for infant jaundice.
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