Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, or G6PD, is an enzyme in the body that helps protect red blood cells from injury. When an individual suffers from G6PD deficiency, a genetic disease, he or she fails to make an adequate amount of this enzyme, thereby putting red blood cells in danger of cell death (1). While this condition ranges…
Permanent brain damage can occur in a newborn if the common condition of high bilirubin is allowed to progress. If bilirubin in the blood gets too high, it can enter brain tissue and cause kernicterus and resultant permanent brain injury.
Elevated bilirubin and jaundice are common among newborns and are easily diagnosed and treated. Sometimes, however, medical professionals fail to appropriately treat them and a type of brain damage – kernicterus – occurs.
