Jaundice is a very common condition among newborns, and at times it can also affect older children because it is caused by excessive buildup of bilirubin, which is the yellow pigment found in the RBC when it breaks down. Normally, the liver will be processing the hormone and will be removing the hormone from the body; however, when this process is slowed or impaired, the bilirubin levels will rise, which will give the skin, eyes and nails a yellowish tone. In the majority of newborns, jaundice is a very temporary issue that will be resolved within a couple of weeks, but in the cases of older children, you need to get in touch with the best gastroenterologist pediatric Madinaguda so that things are very well sorted out and you will be able to provide the children with good health and quick recovery at all times.
Practical tips to manage jaundice and children:
- Remaining aware of the early signs and symptoms: Early detection is the key to success in managing the jaundice very effectively, and parents always need to have a clear idea about the recognition of the symptoms in the form of yellowness of the skin and eyes, pale stools and dark urine, along with other associated problems, including irritation and fatigue. Poor feeding due to loss of appetite or any other kind of related issues, if visible, should be taken seriously, and you should get in touch with the paediatrician as soon as possible to avoid any problem. A simple blood test will provide you with genuine insights into the bilirubin levels of the body and will further provide you with a clear idea about the severity of the condition.
- Ensuring proper hydration: Keeping your children hydrated will always be very important in managing the jaundice because the fluids will be helpful in flushing out the toxins through urine and will allow you to maintain the overall functioning of the liver. Encouraging the children to drink plenty of water, coconut water, and clear soups will always be very important, so that things are very well sorted out. Further, in the case of a newborn, you should focus on frequent breastfeeding so that nutrition and hydration will always be there, which will help support the functioning of the liver very effectively. You must avoid giving any formula or water to the newborn until recommended by the doctor.
- Maintaining nutritious and liver friendly diet: Additionally remaining in touch with the doctors at gastroenterology Hospital for kids in Madinaguda will be very much important so that management of the things will be very well done and for you should focus on maintaining the liver friendly diet for the kids as per the recommendations of Dr. This will further help in making sure that fresh fruits like papaya, apple and watermelon will be important to be taken care of and providing the children with green leafy vegetables will be very much important so that there is no chance of any kind of issue. Avoiding fatty, fried and processed foods will be very important because it will stress the liver, and further limiting the sugar and salt intake will be a good idea so that things are very well sorted out.
- Exposure to the sunlight: For the newborns who are facing the problem of mild jaundice, sunlight therapy is a very effective natural remedy because sunlight will be helpful in breaking down the excessive hormone levels in the skin very easily and exposing to the early morning sunlight before 9 AM and evening sunlight after 4 PM will be very much important for approximately 15-20 minutes every day. Further, you need to make sure that the baby is slightly covered with clothes to allow the sunlight on the skin and make sure that harsh rays are well prevented throughout the process. This will help in making sure that there will be no chance of sunburn at any point in time, and things are very well sorted out.
- Following the doctor advise very strictly: For managing the symptoms of jaundice like a pro it is very much important for you to take the suggestions and consultation of the doctor very strictly because doctor in some of the cases will be recommending you to go through phototherapy with medication and blood test so that management of jaundice will be very well done with appropriate assessment of the liver health. You should always focus on following the prescribed medication dosage and attending the follow-up appointment so that recovery will always be on track without any issues.
- Encouraging the frequent feeding for infants: For the newborn, frequent breastfeeding of approximately 8-12 times in a day will be very important so that flushing of the bilirubin through the stools will be very well done. Proper feeding will always be very much important because poor feeding sessions will lead to an increase in the intensity of jaundice by reducing the fluid intake and bowel movement. So, if your baby is having any sort of difficulty in feeding, then you should get in touch with the doctor as soon as possible, and you must never stop breastfeeding until advised by the doctor. Additionally, remaining in touch with the best paediatric neurologist will be very important so that you will be able to remain aware of the tips and tricks about managing the condition very successfully and eliminate any kind of hassle throughout the process.
Conclusion: Apart from the above-mentioned points, good hygiene will be helpful in preventing the infection because it will lead to issues in managing the jaundice, specifically if it is due to a virus like hepatitis. So, encouraging your children to wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet will be very important, and further, you should focus on eating freshly cooked food so that things are very well managed without any issue. Avoiding exposure to infections will be another very important thing that you need to take very seriously, so that there is no scope for any kind of problem, and things are very well managed at all times. Further, jaundice and children, although common, should never be ignored because whenever it appears in the newborn or older child, the early diagnosis and consistent care will be the only thing that will make a difference. So, ensuring proper hydration, healthy light and sunlight exposure along with medical supervision will be very important so that bodies will be able to remain healthy very well, and further, the children will be able to grow up strong and full of energy at all times.