Question
A relative’s child was born 29 days ago, and their sclera has a slightly yellowish color, along with a general yellowish tint to the body. The family is very worried and fears it may be congenital biliary atresia. They want to take the child to the hospital for a check-up. Can neonatal abdominal ultrasound rule out congenital biliary atresia?
Answer
Congenital biliary atresia is a serious digestive system disease in infancy, commonly found in full-term infants, and may not have obvious symptoms initially. Jaundice may appear two to three weeks after birth. Abdominal ultrasound is a common method for diagnosing congenital biliary atresia, providing images of the baby’s liver and bile duct system to help rule out or confirm this condition. However, ultrasound is not absolutely accurate, and further examinations such as liver biopsy or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRI) may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. If parents have any concerns, they should consult a professional doctor early on to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.