Tag Archives: kernicterus

The liver processes many chemicals, including bilirubin, a waste chemical that results from the breakdown of certain cells. Bilirubin causes the yellow tint seen in bruises and urine. Some people have a condition wherein their liver cannot process bilirubin, so it builds up in the bloodstream. This condition is called hyperbilirubinemia, and it can cause jaundice or severe brain damage if left untreated. Occasionally, unborn children develop hyperbilirubinemia while in utero. The placenta is responsible for processing bilirubin, and sometimes the child cannot process it after birth. Fortunately, doctors can easily treat and reverse the condition if they find it early on by employing a mix of phototherapy and blood transfusion. If they fail to find it, however, the child may develop kernicterus, which may cause brain damage or cerebral palsy. Fortunately, kernicterus rates are very low in infants, affecting between .4 and 2.9 instances per 100,000 live births according…
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