Question
A six-month-old baby has congenital biliary atresia; is there hope for a cure?
Answer
Congenital biliary atresia is a severe condition that typically presents with jaundice soon after birth. Currently, surgery is the primary treatment method for this disease, with the Kasai procedure being the most commonly used surgery. Although the success rate of surgery is not 100%, there is a chance for recovery for children who are diagnosed early and undergo surgery. However, if surgery is not performed in a timely manner, most children will die within a year due to liver failure. Therefore, if there is a suspicion that a child has congenital biliary atresia, medical advice and treatment should be sought as soon as possible.