birth and baby

What you need to know about jaundice and its treatment

One of the diseases that worries parents at birth is jaundice in infants. The condition is low risk in the early stages and can be treated at home.

What causes baby jaundice? Why does the baby get jaundice?

Jaundice in infants is caused by high levels of bilirubin in their bodies. The disease causes yellow pigment in the skin and whites of the eyes. These conditions are prevalent and, in most cases, do not harm the child.

Bilirubin is a yellow pigment naturally produced by the breakdown of red blood cells in adults and children. This bilirubin is processed in the liver and then excreted in the urine and feces.

What you need to know about jaundice and its treatment

This process usually occurs in adults and children. It can cause jaundice if left untreated, but in infants whose liver is still immature and whose bilirubin processing may take several hours to several days to process.

 The disease goes away after the liver starts usually working, while in most cases it is not a concern, but sometimes it may be a sign of a significant problem. If this problem does not go away in the long run, it can cause medical issues.

Other causes of neonatal jaundice:

  • Babies born prematurely are more likely to have jaundice.
  • Babies born before 37 weeks of gestation are more likely to get the disease.
  •  Malnutrition in infants can also be another cause.
  • Some of the causes of this disease in the newborn are immature liver, which cannot process the average amount of bilirubin in the baby’s body, which usually disappears without a doctor’s intervention. Bruising or internal damage during childbirth can also cause it.
  • Infection enzyme deficiency can also cause this disease in infants.

What you need to know about jaundice and its treatment

Worrying complications of jaundice in infants:

These include brain damage, cerebral palsy, or even deafness.

Where do we find baby jaundice? What is the way to diagnose?

It is challenging to detect jaundice when the baby’s skin is dark. In these cases, the disease may be more pronounced elsewhere, including:

White-eyes, inside the mouth, soles of the feet and palms of the hands.

Where does baby jaundice start?

Jaundice starts on the scalp and continues to the shoulders, trunk, and finally the legs. If the bilirubin level is too high, jaundice will appear below the knee and even the palm.

What are the symptoms of jaundice in infants?

Jaundice is easily diagnosed in infants and usually begins within a day or two after birth. It usually starts in the face and then gradually spreads to other parts of the body.

To be sure, gently press on the compressed area’s skin; a yellow part will appear. If you experience this, consult your doctor before taking any action.

What you need to know about jaundice and its treatment

Common symptoms of jaundice in infants include:

  • Sick and weak appearance
  • Fever and poor nutrition

A child with jaundice can:

  • The urine is yellow and dark, while the urine should be colorless.
  • The stool is colorless, while it should be yellow or orange.
  • Deficient in breastfeeding and poor nutrition.

Crying out loud in sleep:

In most cases, the baby and mother are discharged from the hospital within 72 hours of birth.

In such cases, it is essential to check the baby’s eyes for jaundice and see the following symptoms:

  • Your baby is not eating correctly.
  • The baby looks anxious and tired and cries out loud.
  • Yellow and black shades in the baby
  • A child who has a fever of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit

If excessive jaundice develops, the child is usually kept in the hospital and treated with phototherapy. Phototherapy reduces bilirubin in the child. If there is no other problem, some home remedies may be tried to treat the disease.

But just knowing the cause and side effects is not enough, and we will need more information about it.

What you need to know about jaundice and its treatment

The best home remedies for jaundice:

Sunlight

If your child does not need phototherapy, you can get help from the sun. Be careful not to expose the baby to direct sunlight as it may cause the baby to get a sunburn.

Wheat germ juice

Wheat germ water helps remove toxins from the baby’s body. If the baby is breastfed, a few drops of wheat germ water can be added.

Continuous breastfeeding

The baby should be fed regularly. If she can not use breast milk, dry milk should be used; a maximum of 12 servings per day is beneficial for the baby. Regular nutrition helps excrete bilirubin and liver function.

Temporarily stop breastfeeding

In some children, breast milk can cause the disease. In this case, the mother should stop breastfeeding for a while.

 jujube extract

Jujube extract is useful for treating neonatal jaundice. After consulting a doctor, a few drops of this extract can be given to the child to heal.

Dry milk supplements

If your baby is breastfeeding, your doctor may prescribe a supplement to help treat jaundice.

Treatment with special lamps

Unique solar lamps are available in hospitals as an alternative to phototherapy. The therapeutic light breaks down bilirubin and is excreted in the urine.

What you need to know about jaundice and its treatment

Phototherapy for neonatal jaundice

Phototherapy is also done at home, and the child is wrapped in a blanket and given phototherapy.

Consumption of herbal supplements by the mother

The mother uses herbal supplements such as camphor tea, dandelion, and Neptune flowers, which are natural products for the body’s detoxification, and the baby can use them through breast milk.

Essential points of maternal nutrition when jaundice in the baby:

  • Note that when jaundice in the child, the mother should refrain from eating hot foods.
  • Breastfeeding mothers drink 3 cups of fenugreek sweat daily.
  • To prevent jaundice, breastfeeding mothers should reduce their consumption of sweets, high-fat foods, fried foods, spices, ice cream, falafel, and starch.

*** Note that in some physical conditions of the child and the high rate of jaundice, you should see a doctor and in no way use the recommended methods of treatment at home without consulting a doctor. ***

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