BASICS of BILIARY ATRESIA
Biliary Atresia is a rare congenital condition that occurs once in every 10,000-20,000 live births, in which the common bile duct that connects the liver to the intestine is blocked or absent. Because of
Because neonatal jaundice is common at birth, Biliary Atresia is generally not diagnosed till a few weeks after birth, when the jaundice has not naturally subsided or the child is unresponsive to common treatments for jaundice. There is no known cause for Biliary Atresia and a permanent cure does not exist, thus afflicted children ultimately receive liver transplants.
Biliary atresia is a rare condition in newborn infants affecting the common bile duct between the liver and the small intestine. If unrecognized, the condition leads to liver failure. The cause of the condition is unknown. The only effective treatments are certain surgeries, or liver transplantation.
If not treated, Biliary Atresia is fatal, and only 10% of diagnosed children survive to the age of ten without a transplant.
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this, bile, a fluid created by the liver that transports the toxins filtered by the liver (bilirubin) and other substances produced by the liver, becomes backed up in the liver. This can lead to hyperbilirubinaemia, cirrhosis, and or liver failure. Symptoms include jaundice (or the yellowing of the skin and eyes), light stools, dark urine, hardened liver, and a swollen abdomen.
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