Kernicterus is severe infant brain damage caused by excessive jaundice, or high bilirubin levels. Kernicterus can cause lesions on the brainstem which affect the child’s hearing, eye movement, and balance.
Jaundice itself is not harmful to newborns but when doctors allow bilirubin levels to get too high and don’t administer treatment newborns could develop kernicterus. This condition is commonly a failure to diagnose medical malpractice issue. Our Pennsylvania attorneys are experienced in both birth injury claims and medical malpractice claims. If your child has been diagnosed with kernicterus, don’t wait, call our PA birth injury lawyers now.
SYMPTOMS OF KERNICTERUS
If a baby has severe jaundice, the bilirubin in his or her system may pass into the brain, causing acute bilirubin encephalopathy which can lead to permanent brain damage.
Common symptoms of this birth injury include:
- High-pitched crying
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Baby is listless or difficult to wake
- Baby will not sleep
- Poor feeding or sucking
- Baby arches neck and body backward
- Baby does not soil enough diapers
- Baby feels stiff or limp
- Baby has strange eye movements
- Baby’s “soft spot”, or fontanel, bulges
If your baby is exhibiting any of the above symptoms, you should immediately seek emergency medical attention.
KERNICTERUS CAN CAUSE SEVERE OR FATAL INJURIES
If a child’s jaundice goes undiagnosed and untreated for an extensive period of time, that child may suffer severe injuries and permanent brain damage. Kernicterus may result in:
- Permanent upward gaze
- Cerebral palsy
- Poor development of tooth enamel
- Hearing loss
- Learning disabilities
- Death
OUR KERNICTERUS BIRTH INJURY LAWYERS CAN HELP
If a doctor failed to diagnose high levels of bilirubin in your child and he or she has been severely injured as a result, you should consult ourPennsylvania birth injury attorneys at The Pisanchyn Law Firm as you could receive compensation and bring the medical professionals involved to justice. Consultation and legal representation for PA birth injury cases is free until we win your case, and even then you will never pay out of pocket, we will only be paying you the money you deserve.
We know and understand that money and financial rewards could never give your baby a clean bill of health again, but someone needs to be held accountable for the tragic birth injury they have imposed on you and your family. We want to be here for you during this difficult time, please, call our birth injury lawyers now at 1-800-444-5309 for your free consultation. We have offices in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Scranton, Pennsylvania and will travel to you.
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