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What are the consequences of high bilirubin levels in infants?

Jul 08, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Introduction
High infant jaundice generally causes bilirubin encephalopathy, hearing impairment, growth and developmental delays, liver function damage, and abnormal nervous system development. When an infant's bilirubin levels become excessively high, free bilirubin can cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the central nervous system, damaging areas such as the basal ganglia, leading to symptoms such as lethargy, poor sucking, and seizures. Severe cases may result in permanent brain injury.

High infant jaundice generally leads to conditions such as bilirubin encephalopathy, hearing impairment, growth and developmental delays, liver function damage, and abnormal nervous system development. If any abnormalities are noticed, timely medical consultation is recommended. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Bilirubin Encephalopathy: When bilirubin levels in an infant's body are excessively high, free bilirubin can cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the central nervous system, damaging areas such as the basal ganglia, leading to symptoms like lethargy, poor sucking, and seizures. Severe cases may result in permanent brain damage.

2. Hearing Impairment: Excessively high bilirubin levels may affect the auditory nerve and auditory pathways, causing hearing loss or impairment. This may manifest as delayed responses to sounds and could potentially impact language development over time.

3. Growth and Developmental Delays: Jaundice that remains persistently high can affect an infant's appetite, leading to reduced food intake and insufficient nutrient absorption, which in turn impacts weight gain and physical development, causing growth metrics to lag behind those of peers.

4. Liver Function Damage: Certain diseases that cause jaundice can directly impair liver function, damaging liver cells and affecting the liver's metabolic and detoxification abilities, resulting in abnormal liver function indicators and increased systemic burden.

5. Abnormal Nervous System Development: Prolonged, uncontrolled high jaundice may interfere with normal nervous system development, leading to delays in motor and cognitive skills, such as delayed head-lifting or rolling over, or reduced responsiveness.

If high jaundice levels are detected in an infant, prompt monitoring of bilirubin levels is necessary. Medical interventions such as phototherapy should be implemented following a physician's guidance, with regular follow-up tests to ensure timely resolution of jaundice and reduce the risk of adverse outcomes.

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