Neonatal pathological jaundice is different from physiological jaundice and can be differentiated from each other according to its characteristics. The pathological jaundice of newborn is a group of diseases composed of many reasons. Some common jaundices are hemolytic jaundice, infectious jaundice, obstructive jaundice and breast milk jaundice, etc. The characteristics of jaundice formed by different causes are different.
- Hemolytic jaundice
The most common cause of hemolytic jaundice is ABO hemolysis, which is caused by the incompatibility of maternal and fetal blood groups. Maternal blood group O, fetal blood group A or B is the most common, and the resulting jaundice is more serious; others such as maternal blood group A, fetal blood group B or AB; maternal blood group B, fetal blood group A or AB are less common, and the resulting jaundice is lighter. In this way, some parents will be very nervous, worried that their children will have ABO hemolysis. In fact, not all ABO blood group incompatible newborns will have hemolysis. It is reported that the incidence of ABO-incompatible hemolysis in newborns is 11.9%. Hemolytic jaundice usually occurs within 24 hours after birth, and gradually aggravates.
- Infectious jaundice
Infectious jaundice is caused by the damage of hepatocyte function caused by virus infection or bacterial infection. Most of the viral infections were intrauterine infections. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) were the most common infections, while rubella virus (RV), EB virus (EB) and Toxoplasma gondii (Toxoplasma) were less common. Septicemia jaundice is the most common bacterial infection. Infectious jaundice is characterized by persistent jaundice after physiological jaundice or persistent jaundice after physiological jaundice subsides.
- Obstructive jaundice
Obstructive jaundice is mostly caused by congenital biliary malformation. Congenital biliary atresia is more common. Obstructive jaundice appears at 1-2 weeks or 3-4 weeks after birth and gradually deepens. At the same time, stool color gradually turns pale yellow, even white pottery color.
- Breast milk jaundice:
This is a special type of pathological jaundice. A small number of breast-fed newborns have more severe jaundice than normal physiological jaundice, the reason is not clear. It continues to aggravate after the peak of physiological jaundice, and bilirubin can reach 10-30 mg/dl. If breastfeeding is continued, jaundice will continue at a high level for a period of time before it slowly decreases. If breastfeeding is stopped for 48 hours, bilirubin decreased by 50%. If breastfeeding is continued again, bilirubin rises again.
Pathological jaundice, regardless of its cause, can cause “nuclear jaundice” when it is serious. It can lead to nervous system damage or even death. Therefore, neonatal pathological jaundice should focus on prevention, such as prevention of toxoplasma and rubella virus infection during pregnancy, especially in early pregnancy; prevention of sepsis after birth; vaccination of hepatitis B vaccine at birth, etc. Parents should closely observe their children’s jaundice changes. If they find signs of pathological jaundice, they should send the baby to the hospital in time for diagnosis and treatment.
