Can Untreated Jaundice in Babies Cause Brain Damage?
Jaundice is common in newborns. It makes a baby’s skin and the whites of their eyes turn yellow. This happens because of high levels of bilirubin, a yellow substance from broken-down red blood cells. Most babies get jaundice in their first week. About 80 percent of newborns show signs of it. In many cases, it goes away on its own as the baby’s liver gets better at handling bilirubin.
Newborn livers are not fully ready to work at full strength. They take about two weeks to mature. Premature babies, those born before 38 weeks, face higher risks. Their livers are even less developed. Other risks include bruising from birth, blood type mismatches with the mother, or a sibling who had bad jaundice before.
Mild jaundice needs no treatment. Doctors watch it closely. They check bilirubin levels with simple blood tests. If levels rise too high, treatments like phototherapy start right away. This uses special blue lights to break down bilirubin in the skin. It works fast for most babies.
The real danger comes when jaundice goes untreated. High bilirubin can cross into the brain. This causes a condition called kernicterus. Kernicterus is rare but serious brain damage. It happens if bilirubin builds up to dangerous levels and stays there. Untreated severe jaundice leads straight to this problem.
Kernicterus harms specific brain areas. It often hits the basal ganglia, which control movement. This can cause cerebral palsy, with problems in walking or using arms. It affects hearing centers too, leading to permanent hearing loss. Cranial nerve areas get damaged, causing issues like poor eye control, trouble swallowing, or weak facial muscles. Babies may show early signs like floppy or stiff muscles, high-pitched cries, seizures, or refusal to feed.
Later effects include learning delays, speech problems, twitching movements, and dental issues like discolored teeth. Eye movements might go upward or side to side. In worst cases, it leads to coma or death if not caught.
Doctors prevent this with routine checks. Any yellow skin means a bilirubin test. Risky babies get extra monitoring. Phototherapy lowers levels quickly. If that fails, exchange transfusion swaps the baby’s blood with donor blood to dilute bilirubin. Early action stops brain damage for good.
In places with good care, like the United States, kernicterus is very rare thanks to strict rules. Parents should tell doctors about yellow skin or feeding troubles right away.
Sources
https://www.cerebralpalsyhub.com/birth-injury/kernicterus/
https://www.lblaw.co.uk/medical-negligence/birth-injury/kernicterus-claims/
https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/bangkok/content/jaundice-new-parents-should-know
https://www.fletcherssolicitors.co.uk/medical-negligence/birth-injury-claims/kernicterus-claims/
https://aeroflowbreastpumps.com/care-guides/post/breastfeeding-and-jaundice
