Complications/Effects of Jaundice

Some cases of severe infant jaundice are linked to an underlying disorder, such as:

a) Kernicterus

Its a rare but serious complication of untreated jaundice in babies. It's caused by excess bilirubin damaging the brain or central nervous system.In newborn babies with very high levels of bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinaemia), the bilirubin can cross the thin layer of tissue that separates the brain and blood (the blood-brain barrier).The bilirubin can damage the brain and spinal cord, which can be life threatening.Brain damage caused by high levels of bilirubin is also called bilirubin encephalopathy.

 Your baby may be at risk of developing kernicterus if:

• they have a very high level of bilirubin in their blood
• the level of bilirubin in their blood is rising rapidly
• they don't receive any treatment

Liver Disease:
Infant jaundice usually occurs because a baby's liver isn't mature enough to get rid of bilirubin in the bloodstream. In some babies, an underlying disease may cause infant jaundice. Most infants born between 35 weeks' gestation and full term need no treatment for jaundice.

Blocked bile duct or bowels:

a yellow coloring of the skin and eyes due to a very high level of bilirubin (bile pigment) in the bloodstream. Jaundice caused by an immature liver is common in newborns. It usually goes away within the first week to 10 days of life. A baby with biliary atresia usually appears normal at birth, but develops jaundice at two or three weeks after birth.

Abnormal Red Blood Cells:

Conditions that cause accelerated destruction of red cells, which can occur as a result of immune-mediated hemolysis, certain enzyme deficiencies, or structural abnormalities in red cells.