The Digestive System
The digestive system is a group of organs working together to convert food into energy and basic nutrients to feed the entire body. Food passes through a long tube inside the body known as the gastrointestinal tract (GI). The GI is made up of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, and large intestines. In addition to the GI, there are several important accessory organs that help your body to digest food, but do not have food pass through them. Accessory organs of the digestive system include the teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, To achieve the goal of providing energy and nutrients to the body, six major functions take place in the digestive system:
- Ingestion
- Secretion
- Mixing and movement
- Digestion
- Absorption
- Excretion
Jaundice (Hyperbilirubinemia)
Jaundice is a yellow tint to a newborn's skin and the white part of the eyes. It is a sign that there's too much bilirubin in the baby's blood which is called hyperbilirubinemia. Jaundice usually appears in the first 5 days of life. Most babies have mild jaundice. It usually gets better or goes away on its own within a week or two without causing problems. But jaundice should be taken seriously. In rare cases, if the bilirubin level stays high and isn't treated, it can cause brain damage called kernicterus. This can lead to serious lifelong problems.
Causes
Jaundice occurs because your baby's body has more bilirubin than it can get rid of. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that's made when the body breaks down old red blood cells. It leaves the body through urine and stool. When you're pregnant, your body removes bilirubin from your baby through the placenta. After birth, your baby's body must get rid of the bilirubin on its own. In most cases, babies have what's called physioogic jaundice. It occurs because their organs aren't yet able to get rid of excess bilirubin very well. This type of jaundice usually appears about 24 hours after birth. It gets worse until the third or fouth day, and then it goes away in about a week. In rare cases jaundice may be caused by other things, such as an infection, a problem with the baby's digestive system, or a problem with the mom's and baby's blood types (Rh incompatibility).
Signs and Symptoms
Signs and Symptoms of jaundice include:
- As well as the classic yellow tinge to the skin and whites of the eyes, someone with jaundice may also have yellowing of mucous membranes in the mouth and nose.
- Stools can be pale in colour and urine dark in colour
- Some underlying conditions which lead to jaundice may feel like flu, and may also result in fever, chills, stomach pain, itching or weight-loss or be without an explanation such as a diet.
Diagnosis
The doctor will likely diagnose infant jaundice on the basis of the baby's appearance. However, the doctor will need to measure the level of bilirubin in the baby's blood. The level of bilirubin will determine the course of treatment.
Tests to determine jaundice include:
Tests to determine jaundice include:
- A physical exam
- A laboratory test of a sample of your baby's blood
- A skin test with a device called a transcutaneous bilirubinometer, which measures the reflection of a special light shone through the skin