There are different reasons why babies may have jaundice. They understand:
Physiological jaundice During pregnancy, the mother’s liver is responsible for removing bilirubin from the baby. Once the baby is born, his liver takes over. But when the baby’s liver is not developed enough to handle bilirubin, a buildup and resulting jaundice occurs. This is the most common explanation for jaundice in newborns, and is usually nothing to worry about.
Suboptimal intake jaundice Also called breastfeeding jaundice, it tends to occur during baby’s first week, when he or she is not receiving an optimal amount of breast milk. Because of this, there is a slight reabsorption of bilirubin in the intestines, leading to increased bilirubin levels in the blood. At the same time, not consuming enough breast milk can delay the passing of bilirubin-rich meconium, or the baby’s first bowel movement. This initial stools is an important way to remove bilirubin from the body.
Breast milk jaundice This type of jaundice usually occurs during the baby’s second week of life or later. Although the exact reason for breast milk jaundice is unclear, it is believed that substances in breast milk may prevent the baby’s liver from processing bilirubin properly.
Blood group If the mother and baby have different (incompatible) blood types, the mother’s body produces antibodies that attack the baby’s red blood cells, making the baby more likely to get jaundice.
This happens when the mother’s blood type is O and the baby’s blood type is A or B or the mother’s Rh factor (a protein found on red blood cells) is negative and the baby is Rh positive.
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency An enzyme called G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) helps red blood cells function. When G6PD deficiency occurs, either the baby’s red blood cells are not producing enough G6PD or what is being made simply isn’t working, causing the red blood cells to fragment, triggering jaundice.
G6PD deficiency is more common in men of African origin.
“Infants of Mediterranean origin may also be at increased risk of G6PD deficiency,” explains David L. Hill, MD, adjunct assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill. “But as long as doctors follow standard bilirubin monitoring guidelines, these issues shouldn’t worry parents too much.”
Other underlying disorders Here, jaundice may appear earlier or much later than the more common forms of neonatal jaundice. Some of the conditions that can cause jaundice include:
Although jaundice is very common in infants, several factors can increase a baby’s risk of having this condition, including:
Being born before 37 weeks There is a higher chance that a premature baby’s liver is not fully developed, meaning it may not be able to process and pass enough bilirubin.
Brother or sister with jaundice If you have a child who developed jaundice as a baby, there is a greater chance that your other children will also have jaundice.
bruised at birth A baby born with bruises is more likely to suffer from jaundice because when large bruises heal, they can cause high levels of bilirubin.
Adults
Jaundice in adults is usually caused by reactions to medications or underlying disorders that damage the liver, interfere with the flow of bile, or trigger the destruction of red blood cells.
Causes of jaundice in adults include, but are not limited to:
Inherited disorders that interfere with how the body processes bilirubin, such as Gilbert syndrome and Dubin-Johnson syndrome, can also cause jaundice, but this is less common.
