Yellow whites of the eyes in a newborn indicate the presence of icteric pathology. If the cause is not in a pathological condition, then the imperfection of the baby’s organism causes a similar symptom. Doctors diagnose the baby’s temporary inability to adapt to new conditions of existence outside the mother’s bosom. Often, pathology is detected in premature babies. However, yellowness of the eyes can be a sign of dangerous diseases.
Types of pathology. Physiological
Yellow protein of the eyes in a newborn can be for various reasons. Specialists divide them into two categories: safe for health and dangerous. The first type is physiological jaundice, which is expressed in a change in the color of the eyes and skin. It can cause:
- infant consumption of mother's milk, which contains a high amount of the hormone estrogen;
- restructuring of the body in the neonatal period (does not require therapeutic adjustment and under favorable conditions passes independently).
If the yellow whites of the eyes in a newborn are caused by physiological reasons, then there is no danger to the life and health of the baby. A similar condition can be diagnosed from the second day of a child’s life and lasts no more than seven days. During this time, the baby's body adapts to new conditions of life and adapts.
Pathological
However, the second type of pathology is also distinguished, when the baby has yellow whites of the eyes, which is called pathological. In this case, the baby needs emergency medical attention. The following types of diseases are distinguished:
- liver disease, or conjugation type;
- disturbances in the ducts of the bile ducts, or mechanical type;
- excess bilirubin in the brain cortex, or nuclear type.
It is important to accurately determine the type of disease and, if necessary, provide the infant with appropriate treatment.
How is pathological jaundice manifested?
Yellow whites of the eyes in a newborn are observed in almost every fourth baby, which indicates an adaptation period and adaptation to life outside the womb. However, sometimes pediatricians diagnose a pronounced pathology, which requires immediate medical attention. Signs that indicate the need for a thorough examination:
- In addition to the yellowness of the eyes, the skin has a similar shade. Moreover, the color may be unnatural immediately after birth or after a day.
- The baby feels unsatisfactory.
- After feeding, vomiting appears, which becomes more pronounced on the third day of life.
- Yellow pimples can be observed on the skin.
- The liver and / or spleen are enlarged.
- Yellow skin color does not pass within a month.
- Symptoms of the pathology disappeared, but reappeared for no apparent reason.
- The baby's urine is dark, and the stool is pale in color.
- Bruises appear on the body.
Symptoms are usually fixed in the hospital, but the disease can develop after discharge.
Why is there a problem?
Why the newborn has yellow whites of the eyes, excites all newly made parents. If doctors do not see reasons for panic, then the problem is related to physiology and will pass on its own. However, in severe cases, a long and thorough treatment will be required. The causes of a malfunction in the body, causing a change in the sclera of the eyes and skin, can be:
- hormonal disorders;
- the conflict of the Rh factor of the blood of the baby and mother;
- asphyxia caused by difficulties in childbirth;
- malformations of the liver, spleen or gall bladder;
- hereditary predisposition to jaundice;
- a failure in the metabolic processes of the body;
- infectious diseases.
If this symptomatology is detected in the baby, then it is important to correctly diagnose, prescribe competent treatment and ensure proper care.
Why be afraid?
If the yellow whites of the eyes in a newborn are caused by natural changes in the body, then there will be no health consequences. However, with pathological failures, complications are possible that depend on the causes that caused them. Therefore, pediatricians strongly recommend that you do not let the problem drift to prevent the development of dangerous conditions. For this, it is necessary to regularly show the baby to the doctor and take all appointments seriously when diagnosing the disease. If you do not carefully listen to all the recommendations, then the following conditions may develop in a baby:
- disturbances in cerebral circulation;
- neurological disorders;
- weakening of one's own immune forces;
- intoxication of the body;
- progressive cirrhosis of the liver;
- deafness;
- paralysis;
- lag in mental and physical development.
If the disease can be corrected, then treatment at home is possible. But in some cases hospitalization is required.
What will be offered in the hospital?
Often you can observe the yellow whites of the eyes in newborns. When this state passes completely depends on the cause. If the jaundice is physiological, then within a week the color of the eyes and skin will normalize. If the cause is pathological organ changes, then treatment will take longer. Such jaundice will require hospitalization of the baby and mother, where a treatment course will be offered.
Depending on the reason, the baby may be prescribed procedures where therapeutic methods will be combined, which include the following:
- choleretic;
- antibacterial;
- antiviral;
- immune
- detoxification.
As the experience of doctors and the reviews of parents show, such methods in combination usually give a good result. There are practically no complaints about the deterioration of the well-being of the child and the occurrence of complications. However, it is necessary to be prepared for the fact that at first the baby's well-being may be unsatisfactory.
Cause and investigation
It is always necessary to establish precisely why in newborns the eye protein is yellow. Further therapy depends on the diagnosis. So, if the cause was a Rhesus conflict, then it is advisable to transfuse blood or its components. Further, the infant may be recommended a course of antibiotics and physiotherapy. If the jaundice is of a mechanical type, then surgical intervention is required.
In case of malfunctions in the production of bilirubin, photographic procedures can be shown to the baby. Their essence is to place the child under a special lamp, which works on the principle of sunlight. As a result, vitamin D is being intensively produced in the baby's body, which successfully copes with increased bilirubin. Typically, the course is 96 hours under the lamp.
For some pathologies, doctors may prescribe intravenous glucose courses and the introduction of activated carbon. Glucose is necessary to activate the liver, and the sorbent removes the remnants of unprocessed bilirubin in a natural way along with feces.
Home treatment
Most caring parents are worried if the newborn has yellow whites of the eyes. When this condition passes, it will depend on the diagnosis. If the cause is a physiological malfunction of the body, then the improvement should be noticeable no later than seven days from birth. The pediatrician can also give recommendations that accelerate the healing process. It is known that the best medicine for the baby is his mother’s milk. To improve its healing properties, experts recommend using:
- aloe juice (one teaspoon);
- juice of fresh mountain ash (100 g);
- beetroot juice (100 g);
- tincture of barberry (30 drops).
Typically, tinctures are taken half an hour before meals three times a day. Decoctions of shoots of chokeberry or currant leaf may also be useful. Plants can be brewed and drunk instead of tea for a month.
The following infusions received a lot of praise:
- From Hypericum. A spoonful of dry raw materials must be poured with a glass of boiling water and filtered after half an hour. During the day you need to drink up to one liter.
- From wormwood. Pour a teaspoon of grass with two glasses of boiling water and leave for about twenty minutes. After strain and add a little honey. To drink during the day.
All recipes must be agreed with your doctor. Treatment of jaundice at home is possible only with an uncomplicated condition.
Conclusion
Yellow sclera of the baby’s eyes usually signal imperfection of the whole body and, in particular, the liver. This pathology is temporary in nature, and does not pose a threat to health. However, there are cases when a change in the color of the eyes and skin is associated with a serious pathology that is life threatening and requires immediate treatment. Therefore, it is important to consider all the recommendations of doctors, prescribing and careful care. Under these conditions, the outcome is usually favorable.