How Jaundice Can Lead to Kernicterus
When a newborn has jaundice, your only option as a parent is to trust your medical team to correctly diagnose the condition and provide proper treatment. Medical facilities, doctors, and nurses have a duty to follow certain protocols when a newborn has jaundice to keep the baby safe. However, they sometimes fail in this duty, putting the newborn at risk of the dangers of untreated or undiagnosed jaundice. When this happens, jaundice can lead to a dangerous condition called kernicterus.
Kernicterus develops through a clear progression when medical providers fail to properly monitor and treat newborn jaundice. Initially, jaundice occurs when a newborn's liver can't process bilirubin quickly enough, causing yellowing of the skin and eyes. While mild jaundice is common and often harmless, untreated severe jaundice allows dangerous levels of bilirubin to build up in the baby's bloodstream. When improperly managed newborn jaundice causes the child significant harm, their family may be able to pursue financial compensation through a birth injury claim.
Why Untreated or Undiagnosed Jaundice Is Dangerous
Without prompt and proper treatment of jaundice, bilirubin levels can continue to rise. This toxic substance can cross the blood-brain barrier and begin damaging sensitive brain tissue. The initial signs of developing kernicterus often include lethargy, poor feeding, and a high-pitched cry. Immediate intervention becomes necessary at this stage. Otherwise, bilirubin continues accumulating in the brain, leading to more severe symptoms like muscle rigidity, arching of the neck and back, and seizures.
The progression to permanent brain damage can occur rapidly, sometimes within days or even hours of these warning signs appearing. When healthcare providers fail to conduct proper bilirubin testing or delay treatment with phototherapy, toxic levels of bilirubin can cause irreversible damage to areas of the brain that control movement, hearing, vision, and cognitive function. This damage results in kernicterus, a dangerous and permanent condition that can cause consequences such as:
- Cerebral palsy
- Hearing loss
- Intellectual disabilities
- Other lifelong impairments
When your child is facing long-term consequences of medical negligence, the best step you can take to provide for their future is pursuing full financial compensation through a birth injury claim.
How Medical Negligence Leads to Untreated or Undiagnosed Jaundice
Proper monitoring and timely treatment of jaundice are crucial. Kernicterus is entirely preventable with appropriate medical care.
Healthcare providers should follow established protocols for testing bilirubin levels in newborns, particularly those with visible jaundice or risk factors. When dangerous levels are detected, prompt treatment with phototherapy or, in severe cases, blood exchange transfusion can prevent bilirubin from reaching toxic levels that cause brain damage.
In cases where medical negligence allows jaundice to progress to kernicterus, families face devastating long-term consequences. Affected children often require extensive medical care, specialized therapy, and lifelong support services. The failure to diagnose and treat jaundice appropriately represents a serious deviation from the standard of care that healthcare providers owe to newborns and their families.
Signs of Dangerous Untreated or Undiagnosed Jaundice
Signs of untreated or undiagnosed jaundice in newborns typically progress from mild initial symptoms to severe warning signs that require immediate medical intervention. Recognizing these signs early on is crucial, as prompt treatment can prevent devastating complications like kernicterus.
Early signs of jaundice include:
- Yellowing of the skin that starts on the face and spreads downward
- Yellow tint to the whites of the eyes
- Decreased alertness during feeding
- Difficulty waking the baby for feeds
- Pale or light-colored stools
- Dark urine that may stain the diaper
- Poor weight gain or difficulty feeding
Warning signs that require emergency care include:
- High-pitched crying that sounds unusual
- Arching of the back and neck
- Extreme lethargy or difficulty waking
- Poor sucking or feeding
- Fever or vomiting
- Decreased number of wet diapers
- Listlessness or floppiness
- Seizures or unusual movements
- Bulging of the soft spot on top of the head
These signs can develop rapidly, sometimes within hours. Medical providers should monitor jaundice and test bilirubin levels regularly in the first days of life. If healthcare providers fail to recognize and treat jaundice promptly, they may be putting newborns at risk for serious complications that could potentially include permanent brain damage.
When medical negligence allows jaundice to progress without proper treatment, the consequences can be devastating. Parents who notice signs that could indicate the dangers of untreated or undiagnosed jaundice should seek immediate medical attention.
If your baby suffered complications from untreated jaundice, an experienced birth injury attorney can help determine if medical negligence played a role in your child's injuries.
What to Do if Your Baby Was Injured Due to Untreated or Undiagnosed Jaundice
If your baby suffered injuries from untreated or improperly managed jaundice, the experienced birth injury attorneys at Anapol Weiss can help you understand your legal rights and options. During a free consultation, we'll review your medical records to determine if your healthcare providers failed to follow proper protocols for jaundice monitoring and treatment and explain your legal options. Contact us today at 866-944-0553 to speak to an experienced attorney today.