What is the Difference Between Physiological and Pathological Jaundice?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The difference between physiological and pathological jaundice lies in their causes, onset, and potential impact on the baby's health.
Physiological Jaundice:
- Caused by abnormal metabolism of bilirubin.
- Appears after 2-3 days of birth.
- Disappears by itself in about 1-2 weeks after birth.
- Causes a small impact on the baby's overall health.
- Common in term infants and usually resolves within 1 week in term infants and 2 weeks in preterm infants.
- Bilirubin concentration is not more than 12mg% in term infants and not more than 14mg% in preterm infants.
Pathological Jaundice:
- Caused by various factors such as infections, congenital biliary malformations, and neonatal hemolysis.
- Appears within 24 hours of birth.
- The baby's serum level of bilirubin continues to rise over time.
- Can last more than 2 weeks for full-term babies and more than 4 weeks for preterm babies.
- If not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, it can lead to complications such as riboflavin disease and, in rare cases, irreversible and life-threatening bilirubin encephalopathy.
In summary, physiological jaundice is a mild, transient, and self-limiting condition that typically resolves without treatment, while pathological jaundice is a more severe form caused by various factors and may require medical intervention to prevent complications.
Comparative Table: Physiological vs Pathological Jaundice
Here is a table comparing the differences between physiological and pathological jaundice:
Feature | Physiological Jaundice | Pathological Jaundice |
---|---|---|
Definition | A normal yellow tint in the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes that appears 2-3 days after birth, disappears within 1-2 weeks, and causes little impact on the baby's overall health | A yellow tint in the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes that is not normal, appears within 24 hours after birth, and may have an underlying pathological cause |
Onset | After 2-3 days of birth | Within 24 hours of birth |
Duration | Disappears within 1-2 weeks after birth | Can last more than 2 weeks for full-term babies and longer for preterm babies |
Bilirubin Levels | Normal levels of bilirubin | Elevated levels of bilirubin |
Causes | Immaturity of the liver, increased hemolysis | Various causes, including bacterial infections, liver or gallbladder disease, and hemolytic anemia |
Treatment | No treatment necessary, typically disappears on its own | Requires further investigation and appropriate treatment based on the underlying cause |
Physiological jaundice is a normal occurrence in newborns and is not considered a cause for concern, while pathological jaundice is more concerning and requires further investigation to determine the underlying cause.
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- Etiology vs Pathophysiology
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- Conjugated vs Unconjugated Bilirubin
- General vs Systemic Pathology
- Hepatic Bile vs Gallbladder Bile
- Cyanosis vs Pallor
- Anatomy vs Physiology
- Primary Biliary Cirrhosis vs Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- Liver Cirrhosis vs Liver Cancer
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