Biliary atresia history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Initially, the symptoms are indistinguishable from neonatal jaundice, a common phenomenon.

Symptoms are usually evident between two and six weeks after birth.

Infants and children with biliary atresia have progressive cholestasis with all the usual concomitant features:

• Jaundice
• Pale stools
• Dark urine
• Pruritus
• Malabsorption with growth retardation
• Eventually cirrhosis with portal hypertension.
• Swollen abdominal region(Ascites) and
• Large hardened liver (which may or may not be observable by the naked eye).