Neo-natal jaundice is a very common condition that affects more than 50 percent of newborn babies, Physiological jaundice is caused by accumulation of bilirubin in the blood, released as a result of rapid breakdowns of haemogloin.
Most babies have physiologic jaundice, which useally occur between 3 and 7 days after birth.
Mild jaundice is harmless, but in unusual situations, the bilirubincan get very high and might cause brain damage. Jaundice can be treated by phototherapy. If it occurs within the first 24 hours after birth, or if the bilirubin level is high and is rising rapidly, thebaby should be examined for possible underlying causes such as pathological jaundice. Other danger signs are
if the jaundice persists for more than 2 weeks, or has other associated symptoms.
Common causes of pathological jaundice include haemolysis due to G6PD deficiency,infection, liver or biliary problems.
Sudden Infant Death (SIDS) is a rare but a very threatening condition. It can happen to any baby under 1-year-old with the highest risk occurring when the baby is between 2 and 4 months old. The most dangerous causes include babies sleeping with their faces down, cold weather, mothers smoking during pregnancy or parents smoking in a roomshared with their baby, or premature birth.
To prevent SID, parent should take precautionary measures babies sleepon their backs, keeping the baby's room well ventilated; breast feedingthe baby, and making sure the baby undergoes regular body checks and is given the proper immunization shots.
Extract from the heath feature by University of Hong Kong
Thursday, July 06, 2006
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