Jaundice occurs in about 70% of newborns, It appears in about 48 hrs after delivery. The most common cause of jaundice in older babies and children is an infection of the liver, called hepatitis. Other causes are very rare.
The yellowish skin color associated with jaundice is because of the presence of excess bilirubin in the body. Biliriubin is a product of red blood cell breakdown, which is a normal process. Usually, the liver gets rid of bilirubin, then a processed form of bilirubin goes from the liver to the digestive tract and bowel. Finally, the bilirubin comes out of the body in poo.
When there’s a change in one of these processes, it can create a bilirubin overload. Possible changes include too many red blood cells being broken down (for example, haemolytic anaemia), the liver being damaged (for example, hepatitis), or not enough bilirubin moving from the liver to the digestive tract (for example, biliary atresia).
Symptoms
If your child has jaundice, you’ll notice his skin turning yellowish. The whites of his eyes will be yellow.
A child with jaundice might also have dark yellow wee and pale-colored poo. His skin might be itchy too.
When to see your doctor
A child with jaundice should always be seen by a doctor, especially if the child is unwell or drowsy.
Tests
Your doctor might want to do blood tests on your child, to check bilirubin levels in your child’s blood and possibly wee. In some situations, your doctor might order other tests, such as an abdominal ultrasound.
Treatment
The treatment of jaundice depends on how bad it is and what caused it. You should talk with your doctor about all aspects of your child’s treatment rather than use pawpaw water and risk the child life.
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