Parents warned to look out for signs of liver disease in babies

Publication Date:12/10/2007

Parents should watch out for unusually coloured urine or stools in babies' nappies. They could be a sign of a rare liver disease, a charity has warned.

What do we know already?

Newborn babies often get jaundice. It means their skin and the whites of their eyes have a yellow tinge. Jaundice is caused by a build-up of a substance called bilirubin in the body. It's made when red blood cells are broken down. Usually, your liver can get rid of bilirubin, but that doesn't always happen quickly in newborn babies.

Often, jaundice in newborn babies only lasts a couple of weeks and doesn't cause any problems. But long-lasting jaundice could be a sign that the baby has liver problems. He or she might need specialist treatment.

What does the new advice say?

Many parents don't know that the colour of babies' stools and urine can also be a sign that the baby has jaundice or liver problems. Newborn babies' urine should be colourless, like water. And stools should be yellow or green.

If your baby's urine is yellow, or if the stools are pale or clay-coloured, be sure to tell your doctor or health visitor. Your baby will need a blood test to find out whether he or she has liver problems. If you're not sure about the colour, show your health visitor. He or she should be able to tell you if it’s normal. You can also get a colour chart from the Children's Liver Disease Foundation to check against.

Babies with these symptoms may seem quite well otherwise, but it's still important to have them checked out.

Where does the advice come from?

The advice comes from the Children's Liver Disease Foundation, a registered charity. The foundation has produced guidelines for health visitors which say that all babies with yellow urine or pale stools should have blood tests to check for liver disease. The guidelines have been approved by three hospitals which specialise in treating children with liver disease: King's College Hospital in London, Birmingham Children's Hospital and St James' University Hospital in Leeds.

What does this mean for me?

Liver disease in children is quite rare. It's very common for newborn babies to have mild jaundice, which usually goes away in a week or two. So there's no need to panic or worry if your baby has some jaundice. It's not likely to be serious.

However, if your baby has jaundice, it's important to have him or her checked by a health visitor or doctor. You should make sure your doctor knows if your baby has jaundice for more than two weeks. And if you do notice that your baby's urine is coloured yellow, or his or her stools are very pale, tell your doctor or health visitor.

What should I do now?

You can get a guide for parents on what to look for, by visiting the website www.childliverdisease.org or by calling 0121 212 3839.

To find out more, see our information on jaundice in newborn babies.

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This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.