What is Gilbert's syndrome in children

Juan Luis Guerra said it in that famous song: 'The bilirubin goes up / when I look at you and you do not look at me'. Of jaundice, and of stress, goes this syndrome that occupies us this article. Doctors call jaundice the yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes. There are many different diseases

Juan Luis Guerra said it in that famous song: 'The bilirubin goes up / when I look at you and you do not look at me'. Of jaundice, and of stress, goes this syndrome that occupies us this article.

Doctors call jaundice the yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes. There are many different diseases that can cause it. Gilbert's syndrome is one of the most innocent.

What is Gilbert's syndrome in children and why does it appear

I like to say that Gilbert's syndrome 'is more a disease of analysis than of the person', because many times we notice it by chance when doing it to a patient a biochemical study.

The cause that motivates it is a disorder in the conjugation of bilirubin. There is a genetic component said disorder. As risk factors, we recognize three: fasting, intercurrent infections and stress. In other words, predisposed children, before any of the risk factors that we have mentioned, will have an increase in bilirubin.

How does Gilbert's syndrome affect children and how is it diagnosed?

Does this fact have a clinical significance? No. In fact, if we evaluate how the liver of these children works, we find that it does so in a great way. Nor does it produce an elevation of transaminases. The physical examination will also be normal (the liver is not enlarged).

To diagnose it, you do not need more than a simple blood test. In it, all parameters will be normal, except for total bilirubin and indirect bilirubin, which will be slightly increased.

This box does not need any treatment. It is worth noting that episodes of jaundice tend to recur, especially if the described risk factors recur.