How to observe baby jaundice and how to prevent neonatal jaundice

We receive many cases of brain damage caused by kernicterus in the outpatient clinic. If jaundice is controlled in time, there will be no sequelae. However, some parents neglect it and think that it is normal for their baby to have jaundice. As a result, they delay treatment and cause brain damage. After brain damage, it takes several years of rehabilitation, which places a huge burden on the family. Therefore, parents should pay attention to neonatal jaundice.

1. Why is neonatal jaundice a time bomb around us?

Neonatal jaundice is a common symptom in newborns and is often encountered by parents, but parents rarely know the dangers of neonatal jaundice and why intervention is necessary. This is because neonatal jaundice can lead to kernicterus if it is not intervened in time. What kind of disease is kernicterus? Kernicterus is actually severe neonatal jaundice, also known as "bilirubin encephalopathy." When neonatal jaundice reaches a certain level, bilirubin crosses the blood vessel wall and enters the brain tissue to dye the nuclei of central nervous cells yellow, so it is called "kernicterus." After the nerve cells are stained by it, they cannot metabolize energy, so degeneration and necrosis occur, resulting in irreversible damage.

2. The damage caused by kernicterus is permanent and will accompany the child throughout his life.

Kernicterus can easily leave sequelae such as mental retardation, athetosis, hearing impairment, convulsions, etc. Prevention of this disease is the key. The auditory pathway of the brainstem is very sensitive to the toxic effects of bilirubin, which can easily cause deafness and severe auditory neuropathy. Auditory neuropathy does not necessarily lead to hearing loss, but may manifest as difficulty understanding speech in a noisy environment. Athetosis is mainly manifested by involuntary, purposeless, and uncoordinated movements of the limbs, which worsen when nervous.

3. Kernicterus is a preventable disease and should not be a problem in the 21st century

There is no specific treatment for kernicterus. Because neonatal jaundice is very common, parents tend to ignore it. Many jaundiced babies are taken to the hospital for treatment only after they have developed kernicterus. However, they do not know that the baby's nervous system has been damaged, leaving sequelae such as hearing loss and intellectual development disorders, which bring heavy burdens to society and families. Going to the hospital for treatment in time is the key to preventing and treating kernicterus, so early screening and early intervention for neonatal jaundice are particularly important.

4. Kernicterus is not uncommon in my country, with at least tens of thousands of cases each year.

In everyone's impression, a disease with such serious consequences should be rare, but what is the actual situation? In developed countries such as Europe and the United States, the incidence rate is 1.5/100,000. Since my country has not yet established a registration and reporting system for kernicterus, there is a lack of epidemiological survey data based on population. In 2009 alone, the Chinese Medical Association organized an epidemiological survey of 33 hospitals. The surveyed hospitals reported a total of 348 cases of neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy, accounting for about 4.8% of the total number of children admitted. It can be inferred that there are at least tens of thousands of cases nationwide each year. The monthly rehabilitation costs of children range from thousands to tens of thousands, which brings not only financial pressure to the family, but also spiritual despair.

5. Observe your baby's performance at any time and seek medical attention immediately if any problems occur.

Kernicterus progresses rapidly within 24 hours, with different clinical manifestations at different stages:

Parents are reminded that the development of jaundice in newborns must be closely monitored within 4-10 days after birth, and the blood bilirubin concentration must be tested at any time. Newborn babies can be placed in front of a window under natural light every day to closely observe jaundice, press the forehead, chest, palms and soles of the hands and feet with your hands for 1-2 seconds, then release your hands and observe the yellowing of the skin. Once the whites of the eyes, diapers and tears are found to be yellow, medical treatment should be sought immediately for early intervention and treatment. It is particularly important to note that if the baby's jaundice persists, even deepens and worsens, or recurs after disappearing, you should be alert to the possibility of kernicterus. Intervention for neonatal jaundice is to prevent severe jaundice and kernicterus. This is the responsibility of parents, doctors and the entire society, and the responsibility of parents is the top priority!