Kernicterus

Description:

Kernicterus — a form of jaundice of newborns with high quantity of an indirect bilirubin in blood. Bilirubin appears in basal gangliya and kernels of a brainstem that leads to disturbances of brain functions. Unlike physiological jaundice which develops 24-36 hours later after the birth, then accrues within 3-4 days of life and comes to an end on the second or third week of life nuclear higher than 256 µmol/l at the full-term and more than 171 µmol/l differ in emergence of a hyperbilirubinemia with level is at premature children.

Kernicterus reasons:

The increased content of not conjugated bilirubin in blood (the full-term babies have more than 324 µmol/l and premature newborns have 150 — 250 µmol/l). The main premises of a hyperbilirubinemia are: incompatibility of mother and a fruit on blood groups; the hemolysis caused by a lack of K3 vitamin or reception of sulfanamide drugs, a hereditary spherocytosis, not spherocytic hemolitic anemias, hemorrhages, a pylorostenosis, a disease of Girshprunga; metabolic and endocrine disturbances, sepsis, pre-natal infections, heavy эритробластоз fruit.

The diagnosis based on external signs is usually insufficiently reliable.

Kernicterus symptoms:

Unripe brain cells basal ганглиев are surprised and the cerebral palsy which displays become noticeable at the age of about six months develops, at the child coordination of movements is broken, deafness, a vision disorder is noted, and also there are difficulties in feeding and training of informal conversation.
Besides, at a kernicterus it is observed:
- mucous membranes and integuments of yellow color
- "unbending" extremities and the brushes compressed in a fist
- periodic excitement with sharp brain shout
- bad suction
- protrusion of a big fontanel on the head
- twitching of face muscles
- tremor of hands
- disappearance of a sucking reflex and visible reaction to a sound
- apnoea (temporary cessation of breathing)
- bradycardia, lethargy and spasms.
- excessive drowsiness

Treatment of a kernicterus:

Treatment of already developed bilirubinovy encephalopathy does not exist. The kernicterus is prevented by means of treatment of a hyperbilirubinemia.