Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemias is a medical condition that affects newborn babies causing high levels of bilirubin in the blood. To understand how to spell this word correctly we utilise IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription. Properly pronounced, it sounds like "nee-oh-ney-tuhl hahy-pur-bil-yuh-ruh-bee-nee-mee-uhs". It is important not to confuse the letters "i" and "e" between the two words neonatal and hyperbilirubinemias. The condition is typically treated by phototherapy and exchange transfusions.
Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemias refers to a group of disorders characterized by high levels of bilirubin in the blood of newborn infants. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment that is produced during the breakdown of red blood cells, and it is normally processed by the liver and excreted from the body. However, in neonatal hyperbilirubinemias, the liver is unable to effectively process and eliminate bilirubin, leading to its accumulation in the blood.
There are various causes of neonatal hyperbilirubinemias, including physiological jaundice, which is a common and usually harmless condition that affects many newborns. In some cases, however, more serious underlying health issues can lead to hyperbilirubinemias, such as blood disorders (e.g., Rh or ABO incompatibility), liver diseases, or infections. Premature infants are also at a higher risk of developing hyperbilirubinemia due to their immature liver function.
Symptoms of neonatal hyperbilirubinemias can include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), poor feeding, lethargy, and in severe cases, neurological complications such as seizures. Diagnosis is typically made through a blood test to measure the levels of bilirubin in the infant's blood.
Treatment options for neonatal hyperbilirubinemias depend on the underlying cause and severity of the condition. Phototherapy is a common treatment method, where the baby is placed under special lights that help break down bilirubin in the skin. In more severe cases, exchange transfusion may be necessary, which involves replacing the baby's blood with donor blood to remove excess bilirubin.
It is important for neonatal hyperbilirubinemias
The word "neonatal" is derived from the Latin word "neo" meaning new and "natalis" meaning birth or pertaining to birth. It refers to the period immediately after birth, particularly the first month of a baby's life.
"Hyperbilirubinemia" combines the prefix "hyper-" meaning excessive or above normal, with the root "bilirubin" which refers to a yellow pigment produced during the breakdown of red blood cells. "Emia" is a suffix used to indicate a condition or presence of a substance in the blood. Thus, "hyperbilirubinemia" describes a condition characterized by elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood.
Therefore, "neonatal hyperbilirubinemias" refers to various conditions in which newborn infants have abnormally high levels of bilirubin in their blood.