Causes of Kernicterus

Kernicterus is a complication of infant jaundice. It occurs when bilirubin, which causes yellow pigmentation of the skin, starts to affect brain cells. There's a certain level of toxicity to bilirubin, and when infant jaundice is fairly severe, the bilirubin within the red blood cells can eventually enter the brain. If left untreated, your child may develop kernicterus, which is essentially a form of brain damage that can lead to other health-related issues including hearing impairment, cerebral palsy and cognitive difficulties.

Sepsis

One potential cause of kernicterus is sepsis, which is an infection of the blood. When your child's blood is infected with bacteria, it not only causes an inflammatory response within the body, but also an increase in the level of bilirubin within the bloodstream. As the amount of bilirubin rises, your child's brain becomes more and more vulnerable to its effects, making him more susceptible to kernicterus.

Liver Malfunction

It is also possible that a liver malfunction may be causing a rise in bilirubin, which can eventually lead to kernicterus. Since your child's liver is responsible for filtering bilirubin from his bloodstream, any malfunction or abnormality within this organ could decrease the vital process of filtration. This increases the concentration of bilirubin in the blood, elevating the chances of neurological damage to the brain.

Blood Disorder

Sometimes kernicterus is associated with a blood disorder. In this situation, the red blood cells, which are directly responsible for bilirubin, are atypical and could be producing more bilirubin than the liver can handle. This results in higher concentrations of the substance in the blood, increasing toxicity that can damage the brain.

Blood Type

Kernicterus can also be a result of your child's blood type. If your child has a different blood type from your own, there's an increased potential that you've passed an antibody to your child that actually causes the red blood cells to break down at a faster rate than normal, increasing the concentration of bilirubin in the bloodstream. And since your infant's liver is immature, it may not be able to effectively handle the filtration of bilirubin from the blood.

Malnutrition

When your child suffers from malnutrition, it can actually prompt the break down of red blood cells, increasing the level of bilirubin in the blood. And much like other causes of the condition, your child's liver may not be able to manage the increase in bilirubin.

Premature Birth

With kernicterus, premature birth can also be a contributing factor. This is largely due to the development of the liver, since "preemie's" organs are even more immature than full-term births, and she may not be able to filter the bilirubin from the blood as effectively as other infants.