Physiological jaundice

Physiological jaundice (icterus physiologicus) is a condition in which patients experience yellowness of the skin and mucous membranes caused by physiological reasons. It is not a disease and does not require treatment.

Physiological jaundice occurs in newborns in the first days after birth. This is due to the fact that in newborns the liver, which is responsible for the production of bilirubin, a yellow pigment that is excreted from the body, is not yet fully formed.

As a result, newborns may have higher levels of bilirubin in their blood than adults. However, this level quickly returns to normal and the jaundice resolves within a few weeks.

If a newborn has jaundice that persists for a long time or is accompanied by other symptoms (for example, loss of appetite, fever), it may be a sign of another disease. In this case, you need to consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Physiological jaundice

Jaundice (Greek ictos - “charge”, iatros - doctor); icterus - icteric staining of the skin and mucous membranes, sclera, caused by the deposition in the tissues and body fluids of the pigment bilirubin, formed from hemoglobin in the blood under the influence of various reasons. G. in most cases is physiological in nature and develops immediately after birth or in the first days of life. Associated with the immaturity of the liver enzymatic systems that ensure the metabolism of bilirubin. As a result, its concentration in the blood increases. The main causes of physiological fat: 1. Physiological. An increase in the concentration of bilirubin in the blood serum occurs during hypoxia -