The dangers of high total bilirubin include yellowing of the skin and sclera, liver cell damage, and brain cell damage.
Total bilirubin includes direct bilirubin and indirect bilirubin. High total bilirubin may cause yellowing of the skin and sclera, itching of the skin, aggravate the damage to liver cells, and cause elevation of aminotransferases. In newborns, total bilirubin may also cross the blood-brain barrier when the blood-brain barrier is open or permeability is increased, causing damage to brain cells and resulting in neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy.
Bilirubin encephalopathy may cause symptoms such as convulsions, fever, drowsiness, and sequelae such as hand and foot movements, eye movement disorders, auditory abnormalities, cerebral palsy, and mental retardation.
There are many reasons for elevated total bilirubin, including hemolytic jaundice, viral hepatitis, bile duct blockage, etc. After finding elevated total bilirubin, you should actively go to the hospital, complete the examination, and give targeted treatment in a timely manner after clarifying the cause of the disease.