The yellow hue on the skin of many newborns is called jaundice. The accumulation of bilirubin in your baby's blood is what causes jaundice. It occurs because of their livers not developing enough to eliminate the bilirubin. The majority of the time, jaundice goes away on its own. Babies may need the best newborn pediatrician in Siliguri.
Reasons And Types
As red blood cells normally break down, a yellow pigment called bilirubin is created. The liver processes bilirubin, which is then passed via the digestive system in older infants and adults. The liver of a baby, however, may not be developed enough to do this. Newborn jaundice comes in two flavours: pathological and physiological.
However, pathological jaundice indicates the presence of another underlying illness that is impairing the body's ability to filter out bilirubin. Within the first 24 hours after delivery, this kind may manifest.
How Is Newborn Jaundice Diagnosed?
In the meantime, while you are still in the hospital, your baby's healthcare professional will monitor for jaundice. The optimum period for your baby's bilirubin level is between three and five days of age. Your baby's doctor must give them another examination within this window of time.
If this level is high, your baby's doctor will schedule a blood test to confirm the findings. Your baby's heel will be pinched to get a small sample of blood. The blood test shows the total serum bilirubin (TSB) level.
Treatment
In most cases, mild jaundice goes away on its own as a baby's liver develops. Babies who are fed frequently—at least eight times a day—will absorb bilirubin better.
During phototherapy, your child will be dressed just in a diaper and special safety eyewear and put on a special bed beneath a blue spectrum light. You may also put a fibre-optic blanket below your child.
An exchange transfusion can be required in extreme circumstances. A newborn gets small quantities of blood from a donor or blood bank during this process.
This transfers healthy red blood cells to replace the baby's damaged blood. This lowers bilirubin levels and boosts the baby's red blood cell count.
If your infant seems yellow, you may be concerned so consult with the best newborn pediatrician in Siliguri. Before you leave the hospital and again after five days after delivery, your baby's healthcare professional should check the amount of bilirubin in your child. Even while jaundice is often not harmful, improper treatment may make it deadly.
Give your newborn baby's healthcare provider a call as soon as possible if their jaundice does not appear to be getting better. To make sure your kid is headed toward excellent health, they may give them another bilirubin test.
