A paediatrician with the University College Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, Dr Ifeoma Ude has cautioned parents against using mentholated ointment on their children as well as keeping their newborn babies’ clothes in camphor.

According to her, mentholated ointment and camphor could trigger jaundice in newborn babies.

Dr Ude disclosed that aside the normal causes, storing a baby’s clothes in camphor causes the breakdown of red blood cells.

“Some mothers feel their child may be having catarrh and apply mentholated ointment.

“Such things trigger jaundice in newborn babies,” the paediatrician said.

According to WebMD, an online medical site, jaundice happens when too much bilirubin (a chemical that red blood cells release during their normal breakdown process) builds up in the blood.

WebMD also disclosed that jaundice typically shows up two or three days after the baby is born.

Dr Ude said that some of the commonest causes of jaundice in children are mothers with type O or Rh-negative blood, and babies born prematurely.

She warned parents against using herbal mixtures or paw-paw water for the treatment of jaundice in newborns, urging them to promptly seek medical intervention whenever they notice the condition in their babies.

“The level of jaundice in a baby rises every hour if you don’t intervene. What it was by 9 o’clock will be different from what it will be by 12 o’clock.

“That is why I am stressing that prompt intervention is necessary,” she said.

Dr Ude further said that untreated jaundice has serious consequences, noting that if left untreated, jaundice could lead to brain damage, inability to walk and convulsion in babies.

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