What is physiological jaundice in children?

Nowadays, many children will have symptoms of physiological jaundice, and parents will be very worried once their children show any adverse symptoms. So what causes the occurrence of these symptoms? Now let me understand the reasons and see what causes this symptom.

1. Excessive production of bilirubin

(1) Excessive destruction of red blood cells: The fetus is in a low oxygen environment in the womb, and the red blood cells increase in compensation, but their life span is short. After birth, the blood oxygen content increases, and the excessive red blood cells are rapidly destroyed.

(2) There are many sources of bypass bilirubin.

(3) The heme oxygenase level is high within 7 days after birth, and the potential for producing bilirubin is high.

2. Immature liver function

(1) The liver has poor ability to absorb bilirubin. The content of Y and Z proteins in liver cells is insufficient, resulting in insufficient bilirubin absorption by the liver.

(2) Poor liver function of conjugating bilirubin. The content of glucuronyl transferase in the liver is low and its activity is insufficient, resulting in poor function of forming conjugated bilirubin.

(3) Poor liver excretion of bilirubin. Poor liver excretion of conjugated bilirubin can easily lead to cholestasis.

3. Characteristics of enterohepatic circulation

When a newborn is just born, normal intestinal flora has not yet been established, and the bilirubin that enters the intestine cannot be converted into urobilinogen (fecal bilirubin). In addition, the activity of β-glucuronidase in the intestine of the newborn is relatively high, which hydrolyzes the conjugated bilirubin in the intestine into glucuronic acid and unconjugated bilirubin, the latter of which is absorbed by the intestinal wall and reaches the liver through the portal vein.

Due to the above characteristics, the ability of newborns to absorb, bind and excrete bilirubin is significantly lower than that of adults, and bilirubin is produced more but excreted less. Therefore, jaundice is very likely to occur, especially in situations such as hypoxia, delayed meconium excretion, delayed feeding, vomiting, dehydration, acidosis, and cephalohematoma, which will aggravate jaundice.

The above is an introduction to physiological jaundice in children. I hope that all parents can read the entire article carefully, so that you can better understand the causes and precautions of the disease, and it will also be more conducive to helping children recover their health as soon as possible.