NEONATAL JAUNDICE.

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INTRODUCTION

NEONATE- a baby in the first 28 days of life. This period is called the Neonatal period.

A Neonate.

JAUNDICE- yellowness of the eyes and skin.

Yellow eyes and skin.

NEONATAL JAUNDICE- yellowness of the eyes and skin noticed in a baby at any moment in the first 28 days of life.

Neonatal Jaundice. 

We breathe in oxygen to live. The oxygen is transported (from our lungs) throughout our body by our Red blood cells. The pigment in the red blood cell that serves this function is the hemoglobin. Normally, the body destroys the red blood cells when they are old and replaces them with new ones. When they are destroyed, the hemoglobin is released. Globin, the protein component of the hemoglobin is recycled while the heme component is initially converted to Biliverdin, a green pigment and subsequently to bilirubin, a yellow pigment

Before bilirubin can be excreted from the body, it need to be acted upon by the liver enzymes after which it can subsequently be excreted through our feces and urine. 

This is what gives our feces and urine their somewhat yellow colour.

Without this, it will continue to accumulate in the body.

WHY IS MY BABY'S EYES YELLOW?

In babies, the liver enzymes are not fully at top functions so if bilirubin is produced in excess of what the liver enzymes can handle, some bilirubin won't be acted upon and they'll backup in the body, thus staining the eyes and skin yellow instead of the urine and the feces.

Please Check out Jaundice under GIT CLINIC label for others causes of Jaundice. 

WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE?.

Bilirubin is toxic to the developing brain. Bilirubin can and will permanently damage the brain if not treated

WHAT TO DO.

Not only because it can damaged the brain but also because there are other CAUSES of Jaundice, take your child to the hospital where the cause of the jaundice will be established and a suitable treatment will be given.

CONCLUSION.

You can save a baby by looking out for, detecting and reporting jaundice at naming ceremoonies (christenings) and when paying visit to a new born baby.

Be a baby's hero today.  Please Don't ignore Jaundice. Thank you.