What are the dangers of high pathological jaundice in children?

If pathological jaundice in children is not treated in time, it may lead to serious consequences, such as bilirubin encephalopathy and kernicterus, which will affect brain development and even cause irreversible nervous system damage. Common hazards include permanent hearing impairment, mental retardation and motor dysfunction. The cause should be identified as soon as possible and intervention measures should be taken.

1 Common causes of pathological jaundice

Pathological jaundice is mostly caused by abnormal bilirubin metabolism. The specific causes include:

①Genetic factors: Certain hereditary diseases such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase G6PD deficiency can cause jaundice to worsen.

② Environmental factors: Incompatibility of blood types between mother and baby, such as ABO or Rh hemolysis, can lead to the destruction of red blood cells in the newborn and the release of a large amount of bilirubin.

③ Physiological factors: The liver function of premature infants is not yet mature, which increases the burden of bilirubin metabolism.

④Pathological factors: Severe infections such as sepsis, hepatobiliary diseases such as biliary atresia or internal bleeding can cause abnormally high bilirubin levels.

⑤Drug-induced: Improper use of medication before or after delivery, such as certain infectious drugs may affect the baby's bilirubin level through breast milk.

2 Potential hazards of pathological jaundice

① Bilirubin encephalopathy: If the bilirubin level in the blood is too high and is not treated in time, it will penetrate the incompletely developed blood-brain barrier and damage the brain's nerve tissue, manifesting as difficulty in feeding, paroxysmal screaming, whole body convulsions, etc.

② Long-term nerve damage: can lead to hearing impairment, abnormal motor coordination function, and in severe cases may manifest as mental retardation and epilepsy.

③ Impaired liver function and complications: If the primary disease is not resolved, jaundice persists or recurs, which may affect liver function and further cause symptoms such as anorexia, vomiting, and indigestion. In severe cases, it may cause cirrhosis or hepatic encephalopathy.

3. Coping methods and nursing measures

① Drug treatment: Phototherapy with blue light is a common non-invasive treatment method that can accelerate the metabolism and excretion of bilirubin; if necessary, albumin or immunoglobulin injection can be used under the guidance of a doctor. In severe cases, exchange transfusion therapy is required to quickly reduce the serum total bilirubin level.

②Surgical treatment: If jaundice is caused by structural abnormalities such as biliary atresia, surgical intervention should be performed early, such as the Kasai procedure.

③ Nutritional management: Breast milk should be sufficient, but the level should be avoided from rising due to milk jaundice. If necessary, a small amount of formula milk can be used to assist feeding, and attention should be paid to the baby's daily urine volume and weight changes.

④ Routine monitoring: Neonatal jaundice requires regular serum bilirubin testing, especially for premature infants, high-risk infants and newborns with a family history of hemolytic jaundice.

Timely detection and treatment of pathological jaundice is the key to preventing its harm. Parents should consult when the jaundice index is too high or abnormal conditions occur to avoid serious consequences caused by delayed treatment. Paying attention to early screening and intervention of jaundice can effectively reduce the health risks of newborns and escort the future growth of children.