Patient's question:
A few days ago, my baby at home wasn't feeling well, and I didn't know why. I told my relatives and friends about the symptoms, and they said it might be kernicterus. So, we took the child to the hospital for a thorough examination. The results are not yet available. How can you diagnose kernicterus?Doctor's answer:
Hemolytic disease of the newborn is acute brain damage caused by the toxic effects of bilirubin within one week of birth. The diagnosis of bilirubin encephalopathy primarily relies on clinical manifestations and laboratory tests. Typical clinical manifestations include generalized jaundice of the skin and mucous membranes, irritability, poor appetite, increased motor activity, weakened sucking ability, refusal to breastfeed, and respiratory distress. In severe cases, it can lead to convulsions and opisthotonos, and even coma. Monitoring data show that the concentration of total bilirubin in the serum is below 15 milligrams per deciliter.