What is the cause of high jaundice in newborns?

What causes high jaundice in newborns?

Hyperbilirubinemia, commonly known as jaundice, is a yellowing of the skin caused by the accumulation of bilirubin in the baby's body. It is one of the most common problems in newborns. More than 80% of normal newborns may have yellow skin in the early days after birth.

Bilirubin is a substance in all human bodies. There are two common reasons for bilirubin accumulation: one is excessive production, and the other is insufficient excretion. Due to the increase in fetal red blood cells, excessive red blood cell damage after birth, and short red blood cell lifespan, bilirubin production is greater than that of adults; if the blood type of the baby and the mother is inconsistent, especially if the mother is type O blood and the baby is type A or B blood, hemolysis may occur in the baby's body, leading to jaundice, which will appear earlier and more severely.

Newborns have weak liver function, poor intestinal motility, and intestinal probiotics have not yet been fully established, resulting in insufficient bilirubin excretion and increased reabsorption, leading to infant jaundice; infants who eat less or have other diseases such as hypoxia, head hematoma, and intracranial hemorrhage are more likely to develop jaundice, or worsen the original jaundice; if the baby develops yellow skin discoloration within 24 hours after birth, close attention should be paid to pathological jaundice.

Pathological jaundice usually appears early, progresses quickly, and lasts for a long time. It needs to be treated in hospital in time to avoid serious complications and bilirubin encephalopathy. If not treated in time, it may cause permanent damage to the baby's brain, and even serious sequelae such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and convulsions.