What causes JAUNDICE in babies?

A baby was born and the doctors said she had jaundice and they had to give phototherapy treatment what actually caused it? How can it be avoided?

Neonatal jaundice occurs in ALL newborns in week 1, with around 60% of cases being visible. This peaks after 3-5days.

It occurs for many reasons: shorter red blood cell lifespan, higher red blood cell volume, haemolysis (bursting of red blood cells) after birth, hepatic systems in the liver not fully up and running and due to the enterohepatic circulation being immature (in the liver, a substance called bile is responsible for aiding absorption of fats from diet and bilirubin also enters bile).

It appears that breast feeding can lead to jaundice due to deprivation of fluid and calories, however increased frequency eventually reduces Bilirubin levels.

A condition called kernicterus is important 鈥?Bilirubin can bind to albumin but once this capacity has been reached, free Bilirubin can cross the blood-brain-barrier and have toxic effects. This varies in severity. It is thought that Bilirubin can interrupt energy production and protein synthesis. In more serious cases it can lead to deafness.

Jaundice is routinely treated using phototherapy as blue-green light degrades Bilirubin to non-toxic compounds.

Jaundice is characterised by a yellowish tinge to the skin and eyes. About six out of 10 newborns have jaundice to varying degrees, while the condition is more common among premature babies. Jaundice is caused by an excess of a chemical called bilirubin, which is normally eliminated by the liver. However, a newborn's liver takes a few days to process this chemical. If the baby is full term and healthy, mild jaundice is nothing to worry about and will resolve by itself within a week or so. However, a premature or sick baby, or a baby with very high levels of bilirubin, will need close monitoring and medical treatments. Other causes of jaundice in babies include blood group antibodies (Rhesus factor & ABO incompatibilities), haemolytic anaemia, hepatitis and galactosaemia. Check out the link I've attached.

sometimes it is liver development. enzymes need to time to break down. it is common for premies. and in down syndrome babies. just take care of yourself when preganant. stay away from smoke. it is also common for older mothers.

Hi

This may help you.

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art....

The extra bilirubin in the bloodstream causes the yellowish tinge to many babies'skin , whites of the eyes .It is caused at this tender age by the eventual breakdown of red blood cells from extra blood that is in the babys system via the umbilical cord while the circulating blood is no longer returning out of the umbilical cord
Sorry I need to draw a picture !!!!
When the cord is clamped as soon as the baby is born then this may not happen , when it is left to pulse and the baby breathes the 'out of the womb ' self contained circulation kicks in but perhaps not before a few extra mls of filtered blood arrives from mum.!With an immature liver and a huge influx of red blood cells that break down within a few days it is easy to see how this could happen .Phototherapy speeds up the breakdown process !

cant be avoided, related to the over production of bile by the liver, increased fluids help to dilute this and speed the recovery