What condition is suggested by jaundice, pale stools, dark urine, and splenomegaly in an infant?

The presence of jaundice, pale stools, dark urine, and splenomegaly in an infant strongly points towards biliary atresia. This condition involves the absence or closure of the bile ducts, which prevents bile from flowing from the liver to the intestine. Consequently, bilirubin accumulates in the bloodstream, leading to jaundice, which is characterized by the yellowing of the skin and eyes.

Pale stools occur because there is a lack of bile reaching the intestines. Bile is responsible for the normal color of stool, and when it is absent, the stools appear clay-colored or pale. Dark urine is caused by excess bilirubin being excreted through the kidneys when it cannot be processed properly in the intestines. Splenomegaly, or an enlarged spleen, can result from increased hemolysis or congestion due to elevated pressures in the portal circulation, often seen in cases of biliary obstruction.

In contrast, while neonatal hepatitis can also cause jaundice, it typically presents with additional signs of liver inflammation, and the stool color may not always be pale. Hemolytic disease of the newborn usually presents differently with more profound anemia and elevated indirect bilirubin without necessarily causing pale stools. Choledochal cyst