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kernicterus |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.07 sec. |
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kernicterus /ker·nic·ter·us/ (ker-nik´ter-us) [Ger.] a condition with severe neural symptoms, associated with high levels of bilirubin in the blood.
Kernicterus A potentially lethal disease of newborns caused by excessive accumulation of the bile pigment bilirubin. Mentioned in: Biliary Atresia, Neonatal Jaundice kernicterus [kərnik′tərəs] Etymology: Ger, kern, kernel; Gk, ikteros, jaundice an abnormal toxic accumulation of bilirubin in central nervous system tissues caused by hyperbilirubinemia. See also hyperbilirubinemia of the newborn. kernicterus (kurnik´t n a form of brain damage seen in newborns that is caused by an excessive level of red blood cells (polycythemia). As the body breaks down the red blood cells, bilirubin, a byproduct of cell destruction, becomes elevated and results in excessive jaundice. Typical symptoms include lethargy, high-pitched crying, and decreased muscle tone with intermittent periods of increased muscle tone. As the condition progresses, the newborn may exhibit a fever and may arch the head backward in a condition known as opisthotonus, or retrocollis. kernicterus bilirubin toxicity; may occur with severe hyperbilirubinemia. Rarely observed in dogs and cats. kernicterus Bilirubin encephalopathy Neonatology The staining of parts of the infant brain, especially the basal ganglia and hippocampus by BR that has penetrated the blood-brain barrier which, in older children, is more impervious to
bilirubin; kernicterus is classically linked to Rh HDN, when the immune system of a mother who does not have the RhD–less commonly C, c, E, e, or other antigen on her RBCs, comes in contact with the infant's RBCs and forms antibodies to
them; this causes a brisk hemolysis and ↑ BR; serum levels of ≥ 20 mg/dL of BR pose
a high risk for kernicterus, and represent a medical emergency; severe kernicterus is often fatal, and characterized by lethargy, poor feeding, hypertonicity, seizures and apnea; survivors have sequelae in the form of dental dysplasia, cerebral palsy, hearing loss Clinical, full term infants Severe jaundice, lethargy, poor feeding, choreoathetoid cerebral palsy, mental retardation, sensorineural hearing loss, gaze paresis. See Hemolytic disease of the newborn, Jaundice. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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[42] Because of the possibility of kernicterus (associated with sulfonamide therapy), silver sulfadiazine should be avoided during pregnancy, on premature infants, or on infants younger than 2 months of age. The Sheridan family experienced another healthcare system failure when their son Cal's neonatal jaundice went untreated, leading to a kind of severe brain damage called kernicterus. Sheridan, President of Parents of Infants and Children with Kernicterus (PICK) to testify at an Advisory Committee meeting on the current epidemiology and therapeutic interventions relevant to hyperbilirubinemia in the term and near-term newborn on Wednesday, June 11, 2003. |
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