Bilirubin Paediatric
Also known as Bilirubin Paediatric BloodWhat is this test?
Bilirubin pediatric blood test measures the amount of bilirubin in the infant’s body. This test is done to check the functioning of your liver.
What is Bilirubin?
The liver makes bile which helps in the digestion of food, and bile consists of bilirubin in it. Most of the bilirubin comes from breaking down of red blood cells during the normal body process. A healthy liver can flush out the bilirubin easily but when your liver function is abnormal there is bilirubin build up in the body. Bilirubin is an orange-yellow pigment which comes from the normal breakdown of red blood cells and passes through the liver and excreted from the body.
Why this test is performed?
Usually, this test is done as a part of a group in tests to know how the liver is working. It may investigate jaundice which is also called yellow fever caused due to elevated levels of bilirubin with yellowish skin and eyes, to measure the functioning of the liver, liver diseases like hepatitis, to detect destruction of red blood cells, to find out the progress of the treatment, to estimate drug toxicity, etc.
This test may also be recommended if the baby experience symptoms like dark urine, stomach pain, flu-like symptoms as fever and chills, yellowish skin and eyes, itchy skin, fatigue, etc. This test may also be recommended if the baby is being treated for liver disease.
Test Preparation
Inform your doctor if you are on any medications, have any allergies or underlying medical conditions before your Bilirubin Paediatric. Your doctor will give specific instructions depending on your condition on how to prepare for Bilirubin Paediatric.
Do not take any food or drinks for at least 4 hours before the test. Some medicines may interfere with the test results, your healthcare provider may ask you to stop medications for a few days before the test. Hence inform about your current medical condition and medications to the doctor or technician before the test.
Understanding your test results
The normal test results may vary depending on gender, age, health history, etc.
If your total bilirubin levels are elevated it may indicate liver damage. Higher levels of total bilirubin in blood show that liver is not clearing up bilirubin efficiently. Increase in bilirubin in the blood is called jaundice. Jaundice can be due to different reasons like rapid breakdown of red blood cells, blood disorder like erythroblastosis fetalis, red blood cell disorder like hemolytic anemia, blood transfusion where red blood cells transfused are destroyed due to immune system, problems with gallbladder like abnormal narrowing of the common bile duct called biliary stricture, gallstones, cancer of pancreas, liver problems like scarring of the liver called as cirrhosis, a disorder in which bilirubin is unprocessed by the liver which is Gilbert disease, hepatitis where liver is inflamed or swollen, etc.
In the newborn babies, the level of bilirubin is high for the first few days. This can be identified by observing the baby’s age if the baby was born early, how fast the level of bilirubin is raising. Mild jaundice in newborn babies may be due to changes in the metabolism of bilirubin or it can indicate a liver problem.
Lower levels of bilirubin than the normal reference range is of least concern. It may also be low due to certain medications like phenobarbital, increased vitamin C levels, theophylline, etc.
If you get abnormal test results consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor may recommend other tests depending on your results.
| Gender | Age groups | Value |
| UNISEX | All age groups | < 5mg/dl |