Yellow Babies

The most common ailment that affects the newborns is Jaundice. Jaundice in newborns should be diagnosed as soon as possible and treated, else it may lead to a condition called Kernicterus, which is of a severe form capable of causing damage to the brain, neurological disorders, motor retardation , seizures and even may lead to death.  According the recent studies, the cases of Kernicterus are rising in the United States.  Kernicterus is a severe form of jaundice and it is also known as hyperbilirubinemia.  The obvious telltale signs are: yellow skin coloration in the infant due to the bilirubin buildup in the blood and gradually it leads to the buildup of bilirubin in the brain as well. Hyperbilirubinemia may lead to brain damage with an outcome similar to that of cerebral palsy. Parents should observe for any changes in the color of the skin or sclera of the eyes in the baby which may range from yellow to rose. The color of the sclera is helpful in diagnosing jaundice. Babies may have a slight yellowish skin after birth, but that should fade away within a week of giving birth. If it persists, then the baby should be examined. Few of the signs of kernicterus is  arching of the body, high pitched cries etc. kernicterus can be prevented by checking the bilirubin levels in the newborns at the time of discharge.
Phototherapy can be used to treat mildly elevated levels of bilirubin, and it is effective in prevention of kernicterus if appropriately used. Breastfeeding helps in preventing jaundice and also in curing few mild cases. Exposing the baby to mild sunlight for a hour everyday acts as a natural phototherapy and helps in controlling the bilirubin levels.
Children suffering from kernicterus have lifelong neurological disability; brain damage is irreversible. They need round-the-clock medical assistance. In order to prevent this, attention is being given to jaundice prevention and new therapies and treatments are also made available.