Crigler-Najjar Syndrome

First of all, it is worth knowing that the pediatrician is usually the first professional to notice this condition in the newborn. Crigler-Najjar syndrome is a rare inherited disorder in which the liver does not properly process bilirubin, which causes it to build up in the blood.

How it shows up: Marked and persistent yellowish coloring of the skin and the eyes from the earliest stages of life, which does not correspond to the usual transient jaundice of the newborn.

Origin of the problem: It is due to a genetic fault in a liver enzyme responsible for transforming bilirubin so it can be eliminated.

Appropriate follow-up: The pediatrician, together with specialists in the liver and metabolism, guides the monitoring of these cases. In the face of intense jaundice or jaundice that does not go away in the baby, the prudent thing is to seek timely medical evaluation.