Patient's question:
My child had normal-colored stools right after birth, but a few weeks later, I noticed the urine was darker in color, and the stools were grayish-white or pale yellow. When I went to the hospital for a check-up, I was diagnosed with biliary atresia. Can fetal biliary atresia be treated?Doctor's answer:
Newborn infants develop biliary atresia primarily due to infection with the hepatitis B virus or as a result of cytomegalovirus. After being infected with these viruses, the liver's main duct gradually becomes fibrotic, leading to obstruction of the biliary system. The only treatment for congenital biliary atresia is surgery, especially for infants with severe cases. If treatment is desired, the infant must wait until it develops before undergoing a liver transplant surgery.