Biliary atresia is most commonly seen in term infants and is usually detected around 2 weeks after birth, but a few children are not recognized until they are over 1 year old.
Biliary atresia is a congenital bile duct developmental abnormality, the cause of which is unclear and may be related to genetics, immune factors, and viral infections. It is most common in full-term infants and is usually detected around 2 weeks after birth, manifested by persistent jaundice, clay-colored stools, dark tea-colored urine, and in some cases, hepatosplenomegaly. Only a few cases occur or are not recognized until more than 1 year of age.
Surgery is the only effective treatment modality, emphasizing early diagnosis and early surgery. Once biliary atresia is detected, surgery should be performed as early as possible to avoid delay.