Why is jaundice in a newborn baby so dangerous? It is quite common, no?
Jaundice in the newborn baby is called neonatal jaundice. It usually begins in the first few days after the baby is born. Jaundice can also be present WHEN the baby is born, but the cause is far more serious. Yes, jaundice is very common in a newborn baby – as many as 50% of newborns have it. This is because bilirubin levels are elevated in the blood of almost all infants in the first few days, a normal phenomenon. When the baby is a foetus, it has a different type of haemoglobin that is called foetal-type haemoglobin. When the baby is finally born, adult haemoglobin replaces the foetal-type haemoglobin, and so the baby’s body has to work at destroying the “old” haemoglobin. The baby’s liver has to mature and keep up with the destruction process. Now, when the jaundice is prolonged – especially the unconjugated bilirubin type – this can cause neurologic damage to the baby. What type of treatment is available for jaundice? In the newborn baby, phototherapy is given. You might have seen
