My son is 11 months old and both of his grandmothers have recently mentioned that he is looking a little yellow. I don't see it but I see him everyday. Within the past two weeks he has had two fevers for now apparent reason. He has been drooling alot lately so I just associated the fevers with teething. The fevers have only lasted a day or so and went away with some motrin. With the most recent fever he had a bit of diharrea, and everyonce in a while he will have a day where he refuses to drink his formula. Other than when he has a fever he plays and acts fine. Is this something I should worry about? Could it be jaundice?
It could be serious, call the doc office and let them tell you if you need to bring him in. Don't mess around when it comes to children.
Jaundice can occur with or without a fever. It is from a problem with the liver, not an infection, although it can be caused by liver damage from an infection. Is he eating a lot of babyfood carrots? This can cause a tint to the skin. If not, take him to the doctor and get a bilirubin level done promptly. If he has jaundice, this is a highly concerning development that needs to be looked at immediately. The bilirubin level is a more definitive assessment than "looking yellowish."
Hope this helps. Please keep us updated!
I agree with the others: Take him to be seen by the doctor!
It's true that yellowish or orange tinge to the skin can be from lots of carrots. I would want a medical person to differentiate that from a possible liver or gall bladder problem that could be causing jaundice.
Do not give him any Tylenol (acetaminophen) until you know for sure.
Jaundice would, as the others said, give a yellow tinge to the white parts of the eyes and also to the underside of the tongue. The urine might get darker and the bowel movements might get lighter.
Good luck and let us know what happens!
I suggest you call the Dr. and require to have him seen in the next few days. I would have his liver checked. It sounds like it could be teething but he could also have a problem with the way his liver is functioning. Just be safe...The holidays aren't the time to worry about that stuff... Good luck!
I bet he loves carrots and sweet potatoes. He's probably just eating a lot of those and is taking on an "orange or yellow hue." Cut back on those foods and you'll see a difference.
The other person is right if the whites of the eyes are yellow call the doctor. Does your son eat a lot of yellow veggies? Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, or Squash? If so that can give the body that tint as well.
First, notice whether someone says this within a few hours of him eating any dark yellow (orange) vegetables (sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin/squash). Two of my 3 grandkids would have a yellow nose after eating these and I knew another baby who was that way. Beta carotene works like that in some babies' systems. LOL
If he is truly a little yellow, he could have something associated with his liver. I would take him immediately, and have a blood panel run. They can test for hepatitis and other problems.
Aside from the yellowing of the skin(in infants, this is usually more noticeable at the tip of nose, face, and palms of hands, ) the whites of the eyes would also be yellowing. Because jaundice is a symptom of having too mch bilirubin in the bloodstream, it usually presents itself when there is some level of hepatic (liver) dysfunction or insufficiency. Other symptoms most likely to accompany jaundice are(other than yellowing of skin and sclera(eye whites) are" Darkened urine and or clay colored stool, distention, bloating, hardness, inflammation and pain in liver area(this would be on you son's upper right side, just below ribcage), potbellied appearance, vomiting. Jaundice in and of itself is not a sickness, it is a symptom, it is the yellowing of skin and eye whites. Jaundice is usually indicative of a serious, but not necessarily fatal, liver problem. Many newborns are born jaundiced, because the liver is not yet mutured enough to process the bilirubin in the blood, and that's why they have to be placed under the bili-lights. If your son's skin and eyes are turning yellow, you need to call the pediatrician ASAP!
Check the whites of his eyes, if they look yellow, call his doctor. If your still worried, call your doctor, that's what they're paid the big money for! What I learned as a mother was don't be afraid to call, Because you never know.
