Diversity of Diseases-Causing Neonatal Jaundice - Experience of Pediatric Surgery Unit in Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, Swat

Abstract

Background: Rapidly establishing the cause of neonatal jaundice is very important. Delaying an exact diagnosis can have lifelong consequences. Timely treatment, if possible, is a universal solution. Objectives: This study aimed to report on the prevalence and diagnostic approach of the myriad disorders causing persistent neonatal jaundice in patients presenting to the pediatric surgery unit of Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital (SGTH), Swat. Materials and Methods: Clinical chemistry and cause of disease were retrospectively analyzed in 40 infants (male n=21, 52.5%) that had presented with neonatal jaundice to SGTH, from January 2020 to December 2021. Results: The mean age was 45±30 days (range 20-90 days). The most common cause of persistent neonatal jaundice was biliary atresia (52 %) followed by idiopathic causes (15%) and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (10%). Conclusion: Although in the last 2 decades, new causes such as the progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis followed by idiopathic cases have been identified biliary atresia still represents the major cause of persistent neonatal jaundice.

Keywords

• neonatal jaundice
• biliary atresia
• newborn
• diversity
• disease
• pediatric surgery