Biliary atresia(patient information)

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Synonyms and keywords: Atresia of bile ducts

Biliary atresia
Overview
What are the symptoms?
Who is at highest risk?
What are the causes?
When to seek urgent medical care?
Diagnosis
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for Biliary atresia?
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Possible complications
Biliary atresia On the Web
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
Images of Biliary atresia
Videos on Biliary atresia
FDA on Biliary atresia
CDC on Biliary atresia
Biliary atresia in the news
Blogs on Biliary atresia
Directions to Hospitals Treating Biliary atresia
Risk calculators and risk factors for Biliary atresia

Overview

Biliary atresia is a blockage in the tubes (ducts) that carry a liquid called bile from the liver to the gallbladder.

What are the symptoms?

Newborns with this condition may appear normal at birth. However, jaundice (a yellow color to the skin and mucous membranes) develops by the second or third week of life. The infant may gain weight normally for the first month, but then will lose weight and become irritable, and have worsening jaundice.

Other symptoms may include:

• Dark urine
• Enlarged spleen
• Floating stools
• Foul-smelling stools
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Slow growth
• Slow or no weight gain