Treatment for Kernicterus

Kernicterus is a form of brain damage that is found in newborn babies. When babies are born, their livers begin developing a yellow waste product called bilirubin. When there is too much bilirubin being produced, the skin and the whites of the eyes begin to turn yellow which is referred to as jaundice. It is not uncommon for a newborn baby to have a minimal bout with jaundice when they are first born, but if the liver continues to produce too much bilirubin, then kernicterus will develop.

Blue Lights

Doctors have a high level of success in averting kernicterus from developing to the point of causing serious damage. To prevent persistent jaundice from becoming kernicterus, the hospital will expose the baby to special blue lights that are designed to warm the baby and decrease the amount of bilirubin in the system. This treatment is not harmful to the child, and since the blue lights emit heat, it is very possible that the baby enjoys the treatment. The amount of milk the baby consumes is increased to offset the loss of nutrients due to the exposure to additional heat. Within a few days, or a couple of weeks, the jaundice has subsided and the kernicterus has been averted.

This treatment can be performed either in the hospital or at home. The decision on where the treatment should be performed is at the discretion of the doctor.

Blood Transfusion

It may be that the jaundice has reached an extreme level and the formation of kernicterus is possible. If the doctor determines that the presence of bilirubin is too high for blue light therapy, then she will perform a blood transfusion to immediately reduce the bilirubin in the system. This procedure is safe to the baby, and it is only done under extreme circumstances.

Risk Factors

Not every baby gets jaundice when born, but there are a few circumstances when the possibility of contracting jaundice is higher than in other cases. If a baby has a sibling that was born with jaundice, then that baby is more likely to contract jaundice. A baby born with bruises is very likely to contract jaundice. Jaundice happens because red blood cells die and bilirubin is the waste product of the break down of dead red blood cells. A bruise on a newborn baby means a blood vessel broke under the skin, and there are a tremendous amount of red blood cells being created and dying. This excess of dead red blood cells causes an excess in bilirubin, which causes jaundice.