Biliary atresia is a serious disease of the very young infant.
It results in inflammation and obstruction of the ducts which carry bile from the liver into the intestine. Cirrhosis occurs when healthy liver cells are destroyed, in this case by disease, and replaced with scar tissue. This scarring interferes with blood flow through the liver, causing more cell damage and scarring. The symptoms of biliary atresia are usually evident between two and six weeks after birth. The baby will appear jaundiced, and may develop a large, hardened liver and a swollen abdomen.