Final answer:
The treatment for infantile jaundice involves phototherapy to ionize unconjugated bilirubin, facilitating excretion. If unsuccessful and bilirubin levels are very high, a double volume exchange transfusion is used. Jaundice is caused by the accumulation of bilirubin, a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown, which becomes toxic if not processed by the liver and excreted.
Step-by-step explanation:
The treatment for infantile jaundice involves exposing the baby to UV light in a process called phototherapy. This is effective when the total bilirubin (T bil) levels are above 20 milligrams/deciliter and helps in ionizing the unconjugated bilirubin so that it can be excreted. If phototherapy is not sufficient and T bil levels reach above 25 milligrams/deciliter, a double volume exchange transfusion may be considered. Jaundice in infants is typically due to unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, where the UDP glucuronyl transferase enzyme activity is not fully developed, leading to the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood.
Bilirubin is a byproduct of the breakdown of red blood cells. When it accumulates excessively, it can become toxic, especially if the unconjugated bilirubin crosses the blood-brain barrier, potentially causing kernicterus and mental illness. Normally, bilirubin binds to albumin in the blood and is transported to the liver where it's conjugated into a water-soluble form for excretion into the bile and eventually into the feces. Infectious or hepatic causes of jaundice occur when damaged liver cells fail to process bilirubin properly, leading to increased levels of both conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin in the blood.