Question
Can neonatal biliary atresia be treated? How severe is this condition?
Answer
It mainly depends on the child’s condition. If it’s particularly severe, treatment can be challenging, but generally, infants with mild symptoms can be treated. Congenital biliary atresia is one of the most important pediatric digestive surgery diseases and is also one of the most common indications for pediatric liver transplantation. Typical cases involve full-term deliveries that are usually normal, with normal stool color. Generally, jaundice starts to appear gradually within 2-3 weeks after birth, and some cases may be misdiagnosed as physiological jaundice in the first few days after birth. Surgical treatment can completely cure the condition, and it’s important to monitor liver function.