Can having jaundice as a baby affect you as an adult?

Can having jaundice as a baby affect you as an adult?

Jaundice is common in newborns. When babies have jaundice, it usually goes away on its own, but in some cases, it can become severe and cause bigger issues. It can also occur in adults from specific disease.

Can infant jaundice affect you later in life?

The authors explain that prolonged exposure to elevated bilirubin levels can cause developmental problems which can persist for the rest of the child’s life. Many infants have some degree of jaundice, which usually clears up within a week of being born.

What is the effect of hyperbilirubinemia?

Hyperbilirubinemia is a condition in which there is a build up of bilirubin in the blood, causing yellow discoloration of the eyes and skin, called jaundice. Low levels of bilirubin in the newborn is common and does not cause any trouble and will resolve on its own in the first week of life.

What can cause hyperbilirubinemia in adults?

The predominant causes of conjugated hyperbilirubinemia are intrahepatic cholestasis and extrahepatic obstruction of the biliary tract, with the latter preventing bilirubin from moving into the intestines. Viruses, alcohol, and autoimmune disorders are the most common causes of hepatitis.

What happens if hyperbilirubinemia is left untreated?

When severe jaundice goes untreated for too long, it can cause a condition called kernicterus. Kernicterus is a type of brain damage that can result from high levels of bilirubin in a baby’s blood. It can cause athetoid cerebral palsy and hearing loss.

How is hyperbilirubinemia treated in adults?

Jaundice itself requires no treatment in adults (unlike in newborns—see Hyperbilirubinemia ). Usually, itching gradually disappears as the liver’s condition improves. If itching is bothersome, taking cholestyramine by mouth may help. However, cholestyramine is ineffective when a bile duct is completely blocked.

What is the treatment for hyperbilirubinemia?

Treatment of severe episodes of hyperbilirubinemia includes intense phototherapy, exchange transfusion, plasmapheresis, and tin-mesoporphyrin. During periods of illness, kernicterus may occur at a low level of bilirubin.