Neonatal jaundice: a pathology of child health

Abstract

Neonatal jaundice or neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is a term used to characterize the yellowish coloration of the skin and conjunctivae (white surface of the eye) of newborns, which is caused by an increase in bilirubin in the bloodstream. Bilirubin is a substance produced when red blood cells are broken down. After bilirubin is metabolized by the liver, it is eliminated in the faeces. When this process doesn't take place, there is an increase in bilirubin levels, thus causing the yellowish color. In neonates, jaundice is most often of a physiological nature, as a result of their liver immaturity, and another common cause is blood incompatibility between the mother and the newborn. In most cases, no treatment is necessary, but if the jaundice is more pronounced, it is important to carry out phototherapy, which consists of using light, usually blue or green, to break down bilirubin, and to carry out exchange transfusion, the process of transfusing the newborn's blood. However, if bilirubin levels become very high, there is a risk of neurological dysfunctions developing, including Kernicterus, an encephalopathy caused by bilirubin toxicity in the central nervous system. This study has shown the importance of knowing about the pathology and the relevance of its diagnosis, since if it is not diagnosed early it can cause serious consequences. In light of this, an exploratory bibliographic review of a qualitative nature was the method used in this research. The laboratory plays a fundamental role in diagnosis, with bilirubin being measured using different methods, including the diazo method laboratory reaction and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), hemoglobin and hematocrit measurement, blood typing, newborn screening test (heel prick test), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme measurement.