Patient's question:
Newborn with yellowish skin all over, examination says there is a virus in the blood, why is that?Doctor's answer:
Most newborns may develop jaundice within the first week of birth, which is caused by the deposition of bilirubin in the skin. This condition is medically known as neonatal jaundice. Newborns develop jaundice due to an excess of red blood cells in their blood, which have a short lifespan and are easily destroyed, leading to excessive bilirubin production. On the other hand, the immature liver function in newborns restricts bilirubin metabolism, among other factors or causes, resulting in jaundice. Neonatal jaundice can be either physiological or pathological. If it is physiological jaundice, it does not require special treatment and will resolve on its own. Pathological jaundice is caused by diseases that disrupt bilirubin metabolism. It occurs during specific periods in newborns, significantly worsening physiological jaundice and making it easy to confuse with the physiological type. Pathological jaundice is divided into infectious and non-infectious types. Infectious jaundice can be caused by bacterial and other pathogen infections, such as viruses, syphilis spirochetes, and toxoplasmosis. Non-infectious jaundice includes hemolytic jaundice, biliary atresia, and genetic diseases.Characteristics of physiological jaundice:
1. Jaundice usually appears 2-3 days after birth.
2. The jaundice gradually deepens, peaking between days 4-6, then gradually subsides.
3. Full-term newborns typically recover from jaundice within 2 weeks after birth, while premature infants usually take about 3 weeks.
4. The jaundice is usually mild, with the skin appearing pale yellow. It often affects only the face and upper body. The child remains well, with normal temperature, appetite, urine and stool color, and normal growth and development.
5. Serum bilirubin levels exceed 2 mg/dL. If the jaundice fits this description, parents need not worry.
Characteristics of pathological jaundice:
1. Jaundice appears too early, within 24 hours after birth.
2. Jaundice persists for too long, lasting beyond the normal recovery period, or it reappears after initially fading, or it gradually worsens after peaking.
3. The jaundice is severe, affecting the entire body, with yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes.
4. Serum bilirubin levels exceed 12 mg/dL or rise too quickly, with daily increases exceeding 5 mg/dL.
5. Besides jaundice, other abnormal symptoms are present, such as fatigue, reduced crying or movement, decreased appetite, or unstable body temperature.
If a child exhibits any of the five characteristics mentioned above, parents should take immediate and serious action for treatment. Jaundice caused by viruses in the blood is formed when viruses destroy red blood cells.