Does elevated bilirubin levels in children affect their growth and development?

Elevated bilirubin levels in children generally do not directly affect their growth and development, but it is important to be alert to the long-term effects of potential diseases on health. Elevated bilirubin levels may be related to physiological jaundice, breast milk jaundice, liver and gallbladder diseases, hemolytic diseases, genetic metabolic abnormalities, and other factors. Physiological jaundice in newborns is a common cause of elevated bilirubin levels, typically appearing 2-3 days after birth and resolving on its own within 1-2 weeks. At this point, there is a slight increase in bilirubin levels, which will not cause growth and development disorders. It is only necessary to strengthen feeding to promote excretion. Breast milk jaundice may last for a long time, but most do not affect the absorption of nutrients and weight gain in infants. After suspending breastfeeding for 3-5 days, bilirubin levels can significantly decrease. When bilirubin continues to exceed 256 μ mol/L or is accompanied by worsening skin yellowing, drowsiness, milk refusal, and other symptoms, pathological factors should be considered. Biliary obstruction can lead to bile stasis, affecting the absorption of fat and fat soluble vitamins, and may cause growth and development delay. Diagnosis should be confirmed through liver and gallbladder magnetic resonance imaging or surgical exploration. Hereditary spherocytosis and other hemolytic diseases may cause anemia, and long-term untreated conditions may affect organ oxygen supply and development, requiring blood smears and genetic testing. If metabolic diseases such as congenital hypothyroidism are not intervened in a timely manner, they may cause intellectual and physical development delays, and thyroid function testing is necessary.

It is recommended that parents monitor the range and duration of skin yellowing in their children, record the feeding amount, frequency of urination and defecation, and weight gain curve. For children with persistent jaundice for more than 3 weeks or accompanied by white clay like stool, timely liver function and abdominal ultrasound examinations should be performed. Daily feeding frequency can be appropriately increased to promote bilirubin excretion and avoid the use of drugs that may worsen jaundice. Children diagnosed with pathological jaundice should undergo regular assessments of their growth and development indicators, and if necessary, supplement with vitamin AD or undergo phototherapy intervention under the guidance of a doctor.