KERNICTERUS - CEREBRAL PALSY - MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE COMPENSATION
Kernicterus is a rare condition caused as a result of damage to the brain by high levels of a chemical called bilirubin resulting in jaundice and subsequently, if not treated properly in athetoid cerebral palsy. There are many and various chemicals present in the human body at any one time. Some are a necessary part of normal functioning and some are waste products produced from the breakdown of other naturally occurring chemicals. Bilirubin which is normally present at tolerable levels in the human body is one of the natural breakdown products of red blood cells. Most babies with jaundice will not need to be treated in order to make a full recovery however if the levels of bilirubin are to high for the childs liver to cope with, there is the risk of kernicterus. If problematic and the child does not appear to be recovering naturally from jaundice, treatment using phototherapy or a blood transfusion in urgent cases will bring the levels of bilirubin down to acceptable levels.
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Kernicterus & Jaundice
Newborn babies often experience jaundice from which they recover without treatment but a child with a high level of bilirubin in the blood stream is in serious danger of suffering from kernicterus. It is vital for health professionals to closely monitor any baby with jaundice and to take appropriate action to prevent kernicterus if any of the following danger signs are observed :-
- difference in skin colour, such as yellow or orange
- lethargic baby that is difficult to wake up
- lack of general awareness or a loss of awareness
- being weak, floppy and limp
- crying with a very high pitch
- bow-arched body posture
- feeble sucking and nursing
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Jaundice Risk Factors
Jaundice is a very common phenomena amongst infants although kernicterus is very rare. There are risk factors for jaundice that should be considered well in advance and close observation should be made of any child thought to be at risk :-
- having a sibling who had jaundice
- baby born earlier than 37 weeks (at risk of a weak liver)
- baby who is not a strong eater
- mediterranean or east asian baby (ethnic hereditary factors)
- baby bruised during birth (due to build up of haemoglobin the pre-cursor of bilirubin)
- baby who experienced jaundice in the first 24 hours of life
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Legal Aid
Legal aid is available to pursue a claim for medical negligence resulting in kernicterus on behalf of a child. There is usually no question of any parental contribution to legal costs because assessment for public funding is based on the income and assets of the child and not the parents. The child of parents with substantial assets or a high disposable income will still usually qualify for legal aid with a nil contribution. All of our solicitors are members of the Law Society panel of clinical negligence experts and are franchised to make an immediate application for legal aid.
SOLICITORS HELPLINE 0844 332 0220
Clinical Negligence Solicitors
If you would like to speak to a specialist solicitor about a cerebral palsy compensation claim free of charge and with no further obligation, just complete and send the contact form or use the helpline or send a message by
