Differential Diagnosis for Pediatric Liver Problems that Cause Dark Urine

• Single Most Likely Diagnosis
  • Biliary atresia: This condition is a common cause of liver disease and jaundice in infants, leading to dark urine due to the accumulation of bilirubin.
• Other Likely Diagnoses
  • Neonatal hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver in newborns can cause jaundice and dark urine.
  • Choledochal cyst: A congenital anomaly of the bile duct that can cause obstruction and lead to dark urine.
  • Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: A genetic disorder that can cause liver disease and jaundice in children.
• Do Not Miss Diagnoses
  • Wilson's disease: A rare genetic disorder that can cause liver disease and neurological symptoms, and is potentially treatable if caught early.
  • Tyrosinemia: A genetic disorder that can cause liver disease and other systemic symptoms, and requires prompt treatment to prevent complications.
• Rare Diagnoses
  • Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC): A group of rare genetic disorders that affect bile transport and can cause liver disease and jaundice.
  • Alagille syndrome: A rare genetic disorder that affects the liver and other organs, and can cause jaundice and dark urine.
  • Cystic fibrosis: A genetic disorder that primarily affects the lungs, but can also cause liver disease and jaundice in some cases.