HEALTH

What jaundice means for babies and adults

6 February, 2022 . 0

Jaundice warning signs can be hard to ignore: a yellowing of the skin, the whites of the eyes and bodily fluids. But what is jaundice and how do you treat it?

While jaundice is most commonly associated with babies (presenting in six out of ten newborns to varying degrees), it can also affect adults and be a sign of a serious problem such as liver disease or cancer.

So what is jaundice?

Jaundice is not a condition in itself.

Rather, it’s the body’s way of telling you there may be an underlying health issue.

The main cause is an excess of a pigment called bilirubin in the bloodstream, which is released from the breakdown of old red blood cells.

Other causes of jaundice can include internal bleeding, sepsis, incompatibility between mum and baby’s blood, liver malfunction, and an enzyme deficiency.

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Jaundice in babies

Dr Rupert Hinds, consultant paediatric gastroenterologist at Monash Children’s Hospital, says there are many different types of jaundice in infants but the most common, physiological jaundice, typically occurs on day two or three of a baby’s arrival.

“It is very common in babies, particularly premature babies, and usually presents without any underlying health problems,” Dr Hinds says.

“When a baby is born, their immature liver can’t always break down the red blood cells – their little bodies are not used to getting rid of it.

“In most cases it clears up within the fortnight, when the liver begins to learn how to filter it, and the baby grows up to be a healthy child.”

Professor of General Practice at Bond University, Mark Morgan says a blood test can detect if a baby needs treatment for jaundice, or a device that measures the level of jaundice and “yellowness” that is presenting.

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How jaundice is treated in babies

A blue light is the main way to treat the cause of jaundice in babies in a technique called phototherapy.

“Sometimes doctors use the blue light from a special blanket or crib to help break down the yellow pigment and speed up the process,” Prof Morgan says.

“Babies have to wear an eye mask during phototherapy.

“During treatment for jaundice, it is important to continue feeding, and breast feeding in particular is encouraged.”

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Is jaundice in babies dangerous?

“It is extremely rare, but in some cases the bilirubin can travel to the brain in babies and cause serious issues, including a condition called acute bilirubin encephalopathy and death,” Dr Hinds says.

“This is not something we see very often in Australia, it is more of a problem in countries with limited access to healthcare.”

One study estimated that 75,000 children are living with brain dysfunction worldwide due to complications from jaundice.

Dr Hinds says Australian hospitals generally test babies for jaundice before they are discharged.

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Jaundice in adults

In adults jaundice occurs far less frequently, but it can indicate serious health issues.

Adults can become jaundiced due to a number of health conditions, including hepatitis, pancreatic cancer, infections in the liver, pancreas and gall bladder, and sometimes blood disorders.

“There are various causes depending on a person’s age – jaundice is a very different phenomenon in adults than in babies and children,” Dr Hinds says.

“I’m 51, and if I became jaundiced tomorrow, I would be seeking medical help very quickly.”

Prof Morgan says it presents in the eyes before the skin, followed by possible itching, tummy pain and nausea.

“GPs will ask questions to work out the likely cause, and they will examine your tummy often through an ultrasound to see if there are signs of liver problems,” he says.

“They will also test your urine and organise blood tests.

“Jaundice will gradually fade once the cause has been identified and corrected.”