For decades, our team at The Child Injury Firm has been helping families when their children suffer serious injuries. One of the toughest parts of our job is seeing little ones hurt in ways that could have been avoided. Today, we want to talk about a very serious condition called kernicterus, which comes from severe jaundice in newborns. Many parents know about jaundice, but not everyone understands just how dangerous it can become if doctors don’t act fast enough.
Many babies get a little bit of jaundice. It makes their skin look yellow, and it usually goes away on its own. This happens because a yellow chemical called bilirubin builds up in their blood. Babies’ livers are still learning to work, so they don’t always get rid of bilirubin quickly. But when bilirubin levels get too high and stay high, it can be really bad. That’s when we worry about kernicterus.
Kernicterus happens when too much bilirubin actually goes into a baby’s brain. This can cause severe and permanent brain damage. It can affect a baby’s movement, hearing, and learning for their whole life. Sadly, conditions like cerebral palsy and hearing loss can be permanent results of kernicterus.
Here are some facts that might surprise you, and why we believe kernicterus is almost always preventable:
It's rarer in some places, but still happens. In developed countries like the U.S., kernicterus is pretty rare because doctors usually catch and treat jaundice early. Some studies show it might happen in fewer than 3 out of every 100,000 births. But even one child suffering this way is too many.
Many cases are avoidable. A study in Sweden looked at babies who developed kernicterus. It found that 11 out of 13 cases (about 85%) were "potentially avoidable" because doctors or nurses missed signs, didn't check bilirubin levels properly, or waited too long to treat it. (Source: ResearchGate). This tells us that vigilance and proper medical care are key.
Not all babies get the same attention. Jaundice can be harder to see in babies with darker skin tones. This means the yellowing might not be noticed as quickly, which could delay treatment and increase the risk of serious problems. (Source: CDC Archive). Every baby deserves to be carefully checked.
Most babies with severe jaundice don't get kernicterus. About 8% to 9% of newborns develop severe jaundice, but only a very small number get kernicterus. This proves that with the right care, doctors can prevent this brain damage.
The Child Injury Firm, believes that if a baby develops kernicterus, it often points to a medical mistake. Doctors have clear guidelines on how to check for jaundice, when to do blood tests (like total serum bilirubin or TSB levels), and when to start treatments like phototherapy (special light therapy) or, in very serious cases, a blood exchange transfusion.
If your child’s severe jaundice was missed or not treated in time, and they suffered permanent brain damage like kernicterus, you need the best answers. We investigate whether the medical team followed those important guidelines. When they don’t, and a child is harmed, we work tirelessly to hold them accountable.
If your family is dealing with the heartbreaking effects of kernicterus, please know you’re not alone. Our team is here to help.
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Most babies get a little jaundice, which just makes their skin look yellowish. This happens because of a chemical called bilirubin in their blood, which a newborn’s liver is still learning to process. Regular jaundice usually goes away on its own.
Kernicterus is very different and much more serious. It happens when the bilirubin levels get dangerously high and stay that way. This allows the bilirubin to travel to the baby’s brain and cause severe, permanent damage. It can lead to serious problems like Cerebral Palsy, hearing loss, vision problems, and developmental delays. Kernicterus is a medical emergency that needs immediate treatment.
Kernicterus happens when severe jaundice isn’t properly detected and treated. It’s usually caused by bilirubin levels getting too high and staying high.
Our job is to investigate if the medical care provided fell below the accepted standard, leading to the preventable brain damage.
The effects of kernicterus can be devastating and lifelong because it causes permanent brain damage.
Why it matters: These effects mean a child may need lifelong medical care, extensive therapies, special education, and adaptive equipment. This can be an enormous emotional and financial burden on families.
If your child’s kernicterus was caused by a healthcare provider’s negligence, you could seek financial compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit. This compensation is crucial to help your child live the best possible life. It can cover:
Our firm, The Child Injury Firm, has decades of experience dedicated to helping children injured due to medical negligence, including those tragically affected by kernicterus.
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