My child is orange!!!

I get this panicked call every so often.  We typically need to examine the child to make sure that the whites of their eyes are truly white and to make sure that their liver and spleen are normal.  once we have verified this we can typically diagnose hypercarotenemia.  This is from deposition of the pigment that makes carrots and yams orange into the skin.  It is harmless and typically gets better within a few days of stopping eating carrots, yams, etc.

I hope that this has been educational.

Kevin M. Windisch MD, FAAP
Sparks Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
(775) 359-7111
975 Roberta Lane, suite 101 B, Sparks, NV 89431
www.facebook.com/sparkspeds.nv