Kernicterus is a serious birth injury that is preventable and is often caused by medical personnel failing to check infants for high levels of bilirubin. Kernicterus is a dysfunction of the brain caused by hyperbilirubinemia, an excess of bilirubin. Bilirubin, a yellow by-product of normal recycling of red blood cells, is excreted in urine or bile. Elevated levels of bilirubin may indicate jaundice or kernicterus.<\/p>\n
Kernicterus occurs when bilirubin accumulates in the brain, potentially causing serious neurological damage and even death. Newborn infants are especially vulnerable to this type of brain damage because it is believed that the barrier between the blood and the brain is not fully functional, making it easier for bilirubin to enter the brain. In addition, there is a rapid breakdown of fetal red blood cells immediately before birth, to be replaced by adult red blood cells, which causes the release of a large amount of bilirubin. In (more…)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Kernicterus is a serious birth injury that is preventable and is often caused by medical personnel failing to check infants for high levels of bilirubin. Kernicterus is a dysfunction of the brain caused by hyperbilirubinemia, an excess of bilirubin. Bilirubin,…<\/span><\/p>\n