Question
How should neonatal chronic cholestasis jaundice be treated?
Answer
Pediatric cholestasis refers to the persistent increase in bile secretion in infants due to liver cell damage and/or obstruction of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. Clinical diagnosis mainly manifests as hyperbilirubinemia [i.e., direct bilirubin > 25.5 μmol/L (1.5 mg/dl) or direct-to-total bilirubin ratio > 20%], hepatosplenomegaly, abnormal liver function, and lipolysis. Some people refer to this condition as neonatal hepatitis syndrome. Cholestasis is treatable; conditions such as biliary atresia, choledochal cyst, and gallstones can be treated with surgery. Bacterial infections such as toxoplasmosis and syphilis can be treated with antibiotics.