Kernicterus

Kernicterus is a rare but serious disease that affects babies soon after they are born. It is especially tragic because it is easily prevented. The first indication of the disease is the yellowing of a baby’s skin, called jaundice. Jaundice is caused by an excess of bilirubin in a baby’s system. If jaundice is treated, kernicterus can be prevented. Kernicterus only develops if jaundice and bilirubin toxicity are left untreated.

Children who develop kernicterus are likely victims of medical malpractice. While some children who have kernicterus can ultimately do well, others may have severe problems that will require a lifetime of care

Bilirubin is a yellow chemical produced in the blood from the normal breakdown of red blood cells (red corpuscles or erythrocytes) in a process call hemolysis. Bilirubin travels to the liver, where a chemical reaction takes place to remove it from the blood. Sometimes, however, the liver cannot remove enough bilirubin and the amount of bilirubin in the blood increases. This extra bilirubin travels to all parts of the body through the bloodstream, causing the skin to turn yellow. Again, the medical term for this yellow skin color is jaundice. The medical term for the extra bilirubin in the blood is hyperbilirubinemia.

Besides causing the skin to turn yellow, the bilirubin can cause damage to a baby’s brain. This happens when excessive bilirubin remains in the body for too long. The yellow color of the skin is the clue that there is a problem and that treatment is required, so that kernicterus can be avoided. It is worth noting that according to Virginia Commonwealth University, almost sixty percent (60%) of babies are born jaundiced, while only the condition of a very small number worsens to kernicterus.

No. Many babies have jaundice when they are a few days old, but with proper treatment, it almost always goes away. Early diagnosis and treatment is the key to avoiding brain damage.

Yes. Newborn babies more likely to develop jaundice than others include those who suffered a bruise during childbirth, those born early (prematurely), those who are not nursing well, those who have a brother or sister that had jaundice, and those born to an African-American, East Asian, or Mediterranean family in whom G6PD (Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase) deficiency is common.

The medication co-trimoxazole (a combination of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) may also contribute to the development of the disorder. Kernicterus can also come about as a symptom of Crigler-Najjar syndrome.

Absolutely. Many times, jaundice will go away without treatment. However, if treatment is required, the main treatment is a simple one. Babies are placed under special blue lights for a number of hours, or wrapped in a “bili-blanket”. This is called phototherapy. It helps remove the bilirubin from the blood, which can cause kernicterus. The blue lights are warm and do not cause any harm to the baby.

If the baby gets very, very jaundiced, the doctor can do a blood transfusion to remove the extra bilirubin. This is called an “exchange transfusion.”

No baby should develop brain damage from untreated jaundice. Medical experts now refer to kernicterus as a “never event.”

Another danger of kernicterus is misdiagnosis. The brain damage caused by this disorder mimics some of the movement and language processing problems like autism spectrum disorders, mental retardation, and cerebral palsy.

You should contact your baby’s doctor and arrange for a visit.

If your baby has kernicterus, you may have a medical malpractice claim against healthcare providers who caused this injury. The malpractice claim is for the harm your child has suffered, and for the cost of care and treatment for your child.

You may also fill in your details on the form below and we will contact you.