Question
What Are the Effects of Neonatal Jaundice on Infants?
Answer
During the neonatal period, if the serum indirect bilirubin level increases to over 20% due to any cause, the indirect bilirubin can enter the brain tissue, causing damage to the brain and resulting in kernicterus. Therefore, infants with severe jaundice should be vigilant about the occurrence of kernicterus, especially preterm infants, where the incidence rate is higher with decreasing age. Generally, symptoms such as listlessness, drowsiness, weak suckling, decreased muscle tone, vomiting, and not eating may appear within 12-48 hours after severe jaundice occurs. With timely treatment, complete recovery is possible. If jaundice persists and worsens, symptoms such as fever, high-pitched screaming, seizures, opisthotonos, respiratory failure, and death may occur. Survivors of treatment often have severe intellectual disabilities, involuntary movement of hands and feet, or may be accompanied by eye movement disorders, hearing impairment, and incomplete enamel development as sequelae.