A yellowish tinge to a person's skin and eyes is referred to as jaundice. It results from an elevation of bilirubin, a substance produced during the process of red cell breakdown. When red blood cells reach the end of their life cycle, they are disposed of by the liver, leaving bilirubin behind. Any condition that affects this process can lead to accumulation of bilirubin in the body, which then results in jaundice.
Neonatal jaundice
Most babies have a slight elevation of bilirubin levels during the first few days of life as a result of high turnover of their red blood cells. Also, the liver of newborn babies has not fully developed the enzymes it needs to eliminate bilirubin. This predisposes newborns to a condition called physiologic jaundice. The bilirubin level usually peaks around the third day of life and then trends down for another week of so. This jaundice usually does not have serious consequences. In some babies, this process is exaggerated and the bilirubin level goes higher than expected. If the bilirubin level is high, the baby may need phototherapy. During phototherapy, the baby is placed under a special set of lights that help the body break down bilirubin, making it easier for the baby to excrete it in stool.
Anatomic Abnormalities
Biliary atresia is an anatomic abnormality that causes jaundice in children. According to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital, the symptoms of this condition usually appear between the first and second month of life. Biliary atresia results from a blockage in the bile ducts, the tiny network of channels that drains bile from the liver into the intestines. The bile then stays within the liver, leading to damage of the liver cells. Children with biliary atresia become jaundiced as the bile pigment accumulates. Surgery can help children with this condition improve their growth and development, but it is not a cure. Most children with biliary atresia will eventually need a liver transplant.
Infections
Hepatitis is the medical term for inflammation of the liver. It is usually caused by viruses, although some children can have autoimmune hepatitis, in which the body's defenses attack its own liver tissue. Children with hepatitis become jaundiced when the virus or the autoimmune process destroys the liver cells, decreasing their ability to get rid of bile. Most children receive hepatitis B vaccine, but they can still be at risk for other types of hepatitis. Also, common viruses like Epstein-Barr virus, which causes mononucleosis, can also cause hepatitis and lead to jaundice.
