Many infants suffer from jaundice. However, jaundice can happen to anyone of any age. Jaundice is typically the result of an underlying condition, typically an issue with the bile duct or liver. This is why it’s crucial you know how to spot jaundice and when to call our Home Doctor service for jaundice in Costa del sol.
What is jaundice?
Jaundice is a term that’s used to describe a yellow-like tinge to the skin. Jaundice can also affect and the whites of the eye. There’s always the chance that bodily fluids may be yellow.
The yellowness of the eyes and skin will depend on how much bilirubin is in the body. Bilirubin is waste material that's found in the blood. Moderate levels of bilirubin can lead to a yellow colour. However, very high levels of bilirubin will show a brown colour.
Infant jaundice is a very common condition, particularly in babies who are born before 38 weeks' gestation. It can also appear in some breast-fed babies. Infant jaundice tends to occur when the baby's liver is not yet mature enough to get eliminate of bilirubin.
In some babies, jaundice might be caused by an underlying disease.
Most infants that are born at 35 weeks' gestation and those who are full term typically need no treatment for jaundice. Rarely, an infant may be born with an unusually high blood level of bilirubin. This can place a newborn infant at risk of brain damage.
The symptoms of jaundice
In infants
Infants typically have yellowing of the eyes and skin. Jaundice is likely to appear 2 to 4 days after birth.
You can check for jaundice by pressing gently on your baby’s nose or forehead if the skin that you have pressed looks yellow, you baby could have mild jaundice. If the skin looks a little lighter than normal for a few moments, your baby is unlikely to have jaundice.
In adults
Common symptoms of jaundice can include:
- Dark urine
- Itchiness
- Pale stools
- Yellow tinge to the whites of the eyes
- Yellow tinge to the skin, beginning at the head and spreading down their body
Jaundice that results from low levels of bilirubin can include:
- abdominal pain
- dark urine
- fatigue
- fever
- pale stools
- weight loss
- vomiting
When to call our Home Doctor service for jaundice in Costa del sol
Adults
Call our Home Doctor service for jaundice in Costa del sol right away if you think you are suffering from jaundice. This is because you could also have an issue with your gallbladder, liver, or blood.
Infants
Most hospitals will examine a baby for jaundice before they are discharged. Your baby should ideally be examined between the 2nd and 7th day after they have been born.
If your baby is discharged from the hospital earlier than 72 hours after their birth, make a follow-up appointment within 2 days.
The following signs can indicate severe jaundice or other complications from excess bilirubin. Call our Home Doctor service for jaundice in Costa del sol if:
- The skin on your baby's arms, legs or abdomen look yellow
- The whites of their eyes look yellow
- Your baby seems sick, is difficult to wake or is listless
- Your baby is feeding poorly or isn't gaining weight
- Your baby has high-pitched cries
- Your baby develops any symptoms that you’re worried about
- Your baby's skin starts to appear more yellow