Increased bilirubin in newborns

Increased bilirubin in newborns is often a sign of jaundice. Visual manifestations of this disease is the yellowing of the mucous membranes, skin and eye proteins, which occurs as a result of biochemical processes occurring in the blood. If the amount of decomposed red blood cells exceeds the norm, they accumulate in the tissues and cause the appearance of a similar shade. Bilirubin in newborns, the norm of which differs from the norm of an adult, may increase due to the lack of full maturity of the liver, which is not able to cope with its "duties".

Jaundice is divided into two types: physiological and pathological. The first form of this disease appears about 3-4 days after childbirth and is characterized by approximately 70% of children. This kind of jaundice after a certain period disappears without a trace. The general state of health of the baby in this case has no deviations. The norm of bilirubin in newborns is 103-107 μmol / l. Approximately on the fifth day of the child's life, the child's organism reaches similar indicators.

In general, the level of bilirubin is related to how the mother was pregnant, whether there were any diseases, and also with the degree of maturity of the fetus. Very often jaundice occurs as a result of intrauterine hypoxia, asphyxia or diabetes mellitus in a woman.

Pathological jaundice is a disease that develops with a significant increase in bilirubin in a baby. There may be several reasons for this:

- Rhesus-conflict: various Rh factors in the mother and child;

- destruction of erythrocytes, which have a genetic basis;

- liver infection;

- mechanical jaundice ;

- obstruction of the intestine;

- Gilbert's syndrome;

- Hormonal failures.

According to this list, the conclusion suggests that only doctors can correctly identify the cause of the disease and choose the right treatment.

The level of bilirubin in the cases listed is examined using a blood test. Later, the doctor prescribes several other diagnostic methods, which leads to a diagnosis.

It is important to remember that elevated bilirubin in newborns is a very dangerous indicator, because blood albumin can not completely block it. As a consequence, it enters the nervous system and has a toxic effect on it. And this situation is very dangerous for the development of the brain and nerve centers. This condition is called bilirubin encephalopathy and manifests itself in the first day of life with the following symptoms:

- increased drowsiness,

- low level of sucking reflex,

- cramps and increased motor anxiety,

- Increased blood pressure,

- increased size of the spleen and liver.

By the half-year, the baby has had hearing loss, braking in mental development and paralysis. Therefore, increased bilirubin in newborns requires serious treatment and in the future a regular visit to the neurologist.

If the baby is diagnosed with physical jaundice, the most effective method of reducing bilirubin is phototherapy. Under the influence of light, bilirubin is converted into lumirubin and after 12 hours it is excreted from the body with urine and feces. Sometimes the side effects of this type of treatment are skin peeling and loose stool, which is eliminated after discontinuing procedures. At the same time, mother's milk and frequent attachments to the breast are excellent.

Elevated bilirubin in newborns, which causes pathological jaundice, is treated in the hospital by neonatologists.

Remember that this indicator should be controlled even after successful treatment by visiting specialists and taking tests.