Biliary atresia is a disease that occurs in approximately 1 out of every 15,000 births. In this condition, the bile ducts that carry bile from the liver to the small intestine become blocked. This blockage can cause damage to the liver, which may rapidly progress to liver failure. Despite significant advancements in our understanding, we still do not know for certain why this blockage occurs and how it happens.
However, we do know that if infants are treated early enough, we can improve their condition and slow down the progression of liver damage. The treatment involves surgery where the blocked bile ducts are removed and the liver is directly connected to the small intestine, allowing the flow of bile. The success rates of this surgery are notably higher when performed before the infant reaches 60 days of age, and it is even better if done before 45 days since birth.
A key challenge in dealing with this disease is identifying infants affected by it at an early stage, so they can be referred for timely treatment. One of the simplest and most effective ways to identify infants with a problem in bile flow is by observing the color of their stool. Since the normal golden-green hue of stool originates from bile, when there is an issue with bile flow, the color of the stool turns pale. It's important to note that not all pale stools are caused by biliary atresia, but noticing unusually light-colored stool as an initial sign enables the early detection of infants with biliary atresia.
The Pediatric Liver Unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Center operates a program based on one from Taiwan, where each newborn is given a card with a stool color identification chart. This card provides clear information to parents that assists in early detection of sick infants and provides timely treatment.
To download the card in PDF format (available in Hebrew and Arabic), click here.