What are the symptoms of Crigler-Najjar syndrome?

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What are the symptoms of Crigler-Najjar syndrome?

Symptoms of Crigler-Najjar syndrome range in severity based on the type, with type 1 being the most severe. Newborns with Crigler-Najjar syndrome will experience jaundice, where they have a yellow tint to their skin and eyes. It’s common for newborns to experience jaundice because their livers aren’t fully developed. This normally resolves during the first week of life. Children with Crigler-Najjar syndrome have persistent jaundice beyond the newborn period.

Kernicterus

If there’s too much bilirubin in their brain, nerves and tissues, children diagnosed with Crigler-Najjar syndrome experience symptoms of kernicterus. Kernicterus causes brain damage and is life-threatening. These symptoms normally appear after one month or into early childhood. These symptoms can also occur later in life if treatment for Crigler-Najjar syndrome stops or another illness interrupts treatment progress.

Mild symptoms of kernicterus include:

  • Clumsiness.
  • Muscle spasms.
  • Problems with sensory perception.
  • Trouble with fine motor skills (grasping objects, fastening buttons).
  • Twisting or squirming movements of their body (choreoathetosis).
  • Underdeveloped enamel on teeth.

Severe symptoms of kernicterus include:

  • Difficulty hearing.
  • Extreme fatigue (lethargic).
  • Feeding difficulties.
  • Fever.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Periods of weak muscle tone (hypotonia) and/or tight muscles (hypertonia).
  • Issues with cognitive development.

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