Patient's question:
My child had normal-colored stools right after birth, but a few weeks later, I noticed darker urine and grayish or pale yellow stools. After going to the hospital for a check-up, they diagnosed 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-induced causes. After being infected with these viruses, the liver's main bile 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, it must wait until the infant has developed sufficiently to undergo a liver transplant surgery.