Lascari A D
Clin Pediatr (Phila). 1981 Jan;20(1):25-9. doi: 10.1177/000992288102000103.
Awareness of carotenemia is important to avoid confusion with jaundice and unnecessary diagnostic studies. It is surprising how little information can be found about this relatively common condition in the standard pediatric textbooks. Ingestion of excessive amounts of carrots is the usual cause of carotenemia, but it can also be associated with ingestion of many other yellow vegetables, as well as some green vegetables. Mothers may unknowingly be giving their infants large amounts of carrots in the form of commercial infant food combinations. Carotenemia is a benign condition; vitamin A poisoning does not occur despite massive doses of carotene because the conversion of carotene to vitamin A is slow. Hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, hepatic and renal diseases may be associated with carotenemia, but are not caused by ingestion of carotene. The absence of yellow pigment in the sclera and oral cavities distinguishes carotenemia from jaundice. A similar disorder, lycopenemia, is associated with an orange-yellow skin pigmentation as a result of ingestion of large amounts of tomatoes.
认识到胡萝卜素血症对于避免与黄疸混淆以及避免不必要的诊断检查很重要。令人惊讶的是，在标准的儿科教科书中关于这种相对常见病症的信息竟然如此之少。摄入过量胡萝卜是胡萝卜素血症的常见原因，但它也可能与摄入许多其他黄色蔬菜以及一些绿色蔬菜有关。母亲们可能在不知不觉中以商业婴儿食品组合的形式给婴儿喂食大量胡萝卜。胡萝卜素血症是一种良性病症；尽管摄入大量胡萝卜素，但不会发生维生素A中毒，因为胡萝卜素向维生素A的转化很慢。甲状腺功能减退、糖尿病、肝脏和肾脏疾病可能与胡萝卜素血症有关，但并非由摄入胡萝卜素引起。巩膜和口腔中无黄色色素可将胡萝卜素血症与黄疸区分开来。一种类似的病症，番茄红素血症，是由于摄入大量番茄导致皮肤出现橙黄色色素沉着。
