My baby became floppy after treatment of jaundice. What is the reason?

Question

Hi doctor,

My baby is 1 month and 15 days old. It was detected that he has jaundice after the fourth day of life, bilirubin was at 22 %.

An EBT was immediately recommended which was successful. He was discharged after nine days, but two weeks later, he suddenly became floppy.

Please tell me what can I do to improve his condition and what drug can be used.

He is not adding enough weight, he has catarrh, and the skull at the forehead is not yet closed. He is currently taking Encephabol syrup 1 ml a day.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have thoroughly reviewed your query. Baby being floppy can be due to various causes ranging from cerebral palsy, muscle disorders, infections affecting the brain, brain damage due to low oxygen and even brain damage due to jaundice may also cause floppy baby.

Brain damage due to jaundice may even cause the baby to have a decreased appetite.

I advise you to immediately take your baby to a pediatrician or a pediatric neurologist and get him evaluated immediately.

And regarding the softness of skull at the front region (anterior fontanelle), it may not harden up until between 9 and 18 months.

For more information consult an internal medicine physician online.