Final answer:
The primary treatment for hyperbilirubinemia, especially in newborns, is phototherapy, with an exchange transfusion as a backup treatment. For specific conditions like Crigler-Najjar syndrome or Gilbert's disease, treatments are tailored to the enzyme deficiencies involved.
Step-by-step explanation:
Treatment for Hyperbilirubinemia
The treatment for hyperbilirubinemia primarily involves phototherapy. This treatment uses UV light to help break down bilirubin in the blood rapidly. For newborns, it is essential that meconium is cleared from the intestines, as this helps with the excretion of bilirubin. Breast milk aids this process due to its laxative properties. Newborns are particularly susceptible to the effects of high bilirubin levels, such as jaundice, because they do not have a fully functional blood-brain barrier. If phototherapy is not effective, the backup treatment may include an exchange transfusion to replace the newborn's blood with fresh blood, which has normal bilirubin levels. Other treatments address underlying conditions, like infections, that may contribute to elevated bilirubin levels.
In cases like Crigler-Najjar syndrome or Gilbert's disease, specific enzyme deficiencies are responsible for the impaired breakdown of bilirubin. Treatments for these conditions are more specialized and may include enzyme replacement or gene therapy in experimental settings.