Jaundice is a relatively common condition in newborn babies. In this article, we’ll define the term “infant jaundice” and explain how it relates to birth injury law.
Key Takeaways
- Infant jaundice is the yellow discoloration of a newborn baby’s skin and eyes caused by an excess of bilirubin in the blood
- Symptoms of infant jaundice include yellowing of the skin and eyes, pale stool, dark urine, and itchiness
- Infant jaundice can also be caused by underlying conditions such as infection, liver malfunction, internal bleeding, and more
- Risk factors for infant jaundice include breastfeeding, premature birth, blood type, and more
- Complications of infant jaundice include acute bilirubin encephalopathy and kernicterus
- A failure to properly diagnose and treat infant jaundice leading to complications may be considered medical malpractice
What Is Infant Jaundice?
Infant jaundice is the yellow discoloration of a newborn baby’s skin and eyes caused by an excess of bilirubin, a yellow pigment of red blood cells, in the blood. Infant jaundice is common, especially in preterm babies and some breastfed babies. It usually occurs because a baby’s liver is not yet mature enough to clear bilirubin out of the bloodstream. However, sometimes an underlying condition can cause infant jaundice.
Most infants born between 35 weeks of gestation and full term do not require treatment for jaundice. Rarely, unusually high levels of bilirubin can cause a risk of brain damage.
Symptoms of Infant Jaundice
The signs and symptoms of infant jaundice include:
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes appearing between two and four days after bith
- Pale stool
- Dark urine
- Itchiness
Causes of Infant Jaundice
Potential causes of infant jaundice include:
- An excess of bilirubin that the liver cannot remove quickly enough
- An enzyme deficiency
- Biliary atresia, a condition in which the baby's bile ducts are blocked or scarred
- Viral or bacterial infections
- An abnormality of the red blood cells that causes them to break down rapidly
- Sepsis
- Liver malfunction
- An incompatibility between the pregnant parent’s blood and the baby's blood
- Internal bleeding
Risk Factors of Infant Jaundice
Factors that can increase the risk of infant jaundice include:
- Significant bruising during birth - This can lead to higher levels of bilirubin in the blood because it requires the breakdown of more red blood cells
- Blood type - When the pregnant parent’s blood type is different from the baby’s, the baby can receive antibodies through the placenta that cause abnormally rapid breakdown of red blood cells
- Breastfeeding - Breastfed babies are at higher risk of jaundice when they experience dehydration or low caloric intake
- Premature birth - Babies born before 38 weeks of gestation may not be able to process bilirubin as quickly as full-term babies
- Race - Babies of East Asian ancestry have an increased risk of jaundice
Complications of Infant Jaundice
Potential complications of severe jaundice include:
- Acute bilirubin encephalopathy - Bilirubin passing into the brain requires prompt treatment as bilirubin can be toxic to the brain cells
- Kernicterus - The syndrome that occurs if acute bilirubin encephalopathy causes permanent damage to the brain
Infant Jaundice and Birth Injury Law
It is a doctor’s duty to properly diagnose and treat infant jaundice in order to decrease the risk of complications such as kernicterus. Jaundice is relatively easy to diagnose and simple to treat, and a failure to do so constitutes negligence. When this negligence leads to birth injury, it may be considered medical malpractice.
If your baby experienced complications of infant jaundice, you may be eligible for compensation for your losses. It is recommended that you speak to an experienced birth injury attorney who will be able to help you with pursuing justice.
