ABOUT THE DISEASE

Biliary atresia is a life threatening condition in kids, where there is a blockage in the ducts that carry a liquid called bile from the liver to the gallbladder. Bile is a fluid made by the liver that serves two main functions: carrying toxins and waste products out of the body and helping the body digest fats and absorb the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Due to the blockage, bile becomes trapped, builds up, and damages the liver. The damage leads to scarring, loss of liver tissue, and cirrhosis, eventually leading to a liver failure.

There are two types of biliary atresia- fetal and perinatal. Fetal biliary atresia appears while the baby is in the womb. Perinatal biliary atresia is much more common and does not become evident until 2 to 4 weeks after birth.

SYMPTOMS

The first and most obvious symptom is jaundice, which appears few weeks after birth & the skin and whites of the eye turn yellow. Other common symptoms include:

• • Dark colored urine
• • Enlarged spleen
• • Gray or white stools, from a lack of bilirubin reaching the intestines
• • Slow weight gain and growth

CAUSES

Biliary atresia is a very rare disease affecting about one out of every 18,000 infants. The disease is more common in females, premature babies, and Asian children.

DIAGNOSIS

- Physical examination
- Abdominal x-ray and ultrasound
- HIDA scan
- Liver biopsy

TREATMENT METHODS

An operation called the Kasai procedure is done to connect the liver to the small intestine. This is generally performed when the baby is 8 weeks old, however in some cases a liver transplant is required.

You may also like to learn about:

Jaundice
Cirrhosis
Liver/Hepatic failure
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency
Bile duct obstruction
Cystic Fibrosis