A MUM whose baby developed liver disease wants to highlight the condition after doctors initially missed it.

Kerrie Brett’s persistence meant Amelia, now 18-months-old, was finally diagnosed with biliary atresia.

The condition leads to the bile duct being damaged and causes liver disease.

Amelia will have to undergo hospital checks for the rest of her life to assess whether a liver transplant is needed.

Mrs Brett, 36, of Stalin Road, Colchester, who had a problem-free pregnancy, said: “When Amelia was three-weeks-old, I noticed she was fairly jaundiced, so I took her to the doctors and was told it was breast fed-induced and not to worry.”

That weekend, Amelia’s poo was pale and her skin was more yellowcoloured.

Mrs Brett took her back to the doctors and she was referred to Colchester General Hospital for blood tests.

She was again told it was jaundice.

Mrs Brett and husband, Oliver, were still not happy and a few weeks later a doctor referred Amelia to the hospital.

The hospital confirmed a mistake had been made in analysing the earlier blood results and Amelia had to go to King’s College Hospital, London.

A liver biopsy and more tests confirmed Amelia, sister to Noah, five, had biliary atresia and a 13-hour operation followed to replace her bile ducts.

Mrs Brett said: “She is going to have liver disease for the rest of her life, but a third of sufferers don’t need a liver transplant.

“At the moment, everything is going along the right track.

“It is a horrible condition to live with, but you have to think positive.”

Mrs Brett urged other parents concerned about prolonged jaundice in their baby to be persistent like she was.

She said: “My doctors weren’t aware of it. If you’re a mum and maybe it is your first baby you might not be so clued up. Jaundice is quite common in babies, but I knew something wasn’t right.”

More information can be found at the Children's Liver Disease Foundation website, yellowalert.org