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Neonatal jaundice
Do newborns with jaundice bathe in mugwort leaves?
Mugwort leaves are pungent and bitter in taste and warm in nature. They are associated with the liver, spleen, and kidney meridians. The main effects are warming the meridians to stop bleeding, dispelling cold to relieve pain, and externally used to remove dampness and relieve itching. Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms in newborns, mainly divided into types such as damp-heat stagnation, cold-damp obstruction, and qi stagnation and blood stasis. If the early jaundice is characterized by obvious yellowing of the skin, reduced frequency of stools, and yellow urine, it generally belongs to the damp-heat stagnation type of jaundice. In this case, mugwort leaves should not be used for bathing. If the complexion is yellow and the color is dull and persistent, the child appears listless, the limbs are cold, the stools are loose, and the urine output is reduced, then it is categorized under the cold-damp obstruction type. This usually indicates weakness of the spleen and stomach, heavy dampness, and signs of cold. In such cases, bathing the baby with mugwort leaves can be beneficial as it warms the meridians and dispels cold. Therefore, the use of mugwort leaf baths for newborn jaundice should be based on the specific condition of the baby, and only those with cold-damp type jaundice should use mugwort leaf baths.
Newborn jaundice should visit which department?
Which department to visit for neonatal jaundice depends on the child's specific situation and the departments available in the hospital. For hospitals with only a general pediatrics department, it is advisable to visit the pediatric outpatient clinic during normal working hours and the pediatric emergency department during non-working hours such as noon, evenings, weekends, and holidays. In specialized children's hospitals, if the jaundice is in a preterm infant, then the preterm infant clinic should be visited. If it is a normal full-term infant, a visit to the neonatology outpatient clinic is generally sufficient. However, if there is a suspicion that the baby's jaundice might be caused by surgical factors, such as congenital biliary atresia or choledochal cyst, then a visit to the hepatobiliary surgery clinic is advised.
The harms of neonatal jaundice
Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms in newborns. It can be a manifestation of normal development in newborns, or it could be a symptom of certain diseases. Generally, neonatal jaundice is classified into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Babies with physiological jaundice are generally in good condition and the jaundice will quickly recede, having little impact on the baby and posing no harm. However, if the jaundice appears early, progresses quickly, is severe, or lasts for a long time, it is then considered whether it might be pathological jaundice. Pathological jaundice could be an external manifestation of some diseases, such as severe infections, where intense jaundice might be the only symptom. If such cases of jaundice are not promptly intervened and treated, they could lead to kernicterus, potentially affecting future cognitive and auditory function, or even causing significant developmental delays in motor skills. Additionally, if there is abnormal liver and gallbladder function and elevated jaundice is not treated in time, severe cases can lead to liver failure. Significant liver failure can be life-threatening. Therefore, for pathological jaundice, timely medical intervention and treatment are recommended.
Symptoms of high neonatal jaundice
Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms in newborns. It can be a symptom of the normal developmental process in newborns, or it can be a manifestation of certain diseases. Generally, jaundice is divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice usually does not appear too early, does not progress too quickly, and is not too severe. The jaundice slowly subsides after peaking, and generally lasts no more than two weeks. If it is pathological jaundice, the degree of jaundice is relatively severe, and its main manifestation is that the skin turns noticeably yellow, possibly spreading to the limbs, yellowing of the whole body, and obvious yellowing of the palms and soles. Additionally, there may be other uncomfortable symptoms, such as fever or drowsiness, refusal to nurse, vomiting, obvious abdominal distension, or a significant increase in stool, etc. In such cases, pathological jaundice should be considered, and medical attention should be sought promptly.
Newborn jaundice should see which department?
If a newborn has severe jaundice, it is important to consider the type of hospital you visit. If you go to a specialized children's hospital or a larger tertiary hospital with a pediatric department, there are generally specific outpatient services for newborns where you can seek treatment either at the newborn specialty clinic or at the general pediatric outpatient clinic. If it is outside of regular working hours, such as at noon, in the evening, on weekends, or during public holidays, it is usually appropriate to visit the pediatric emergency department. If you go to a smaller scale hospital, or a clinic or health center, you should see a pediatrician if one is available; if not, you should see an internal medicine doctor. Regardless of the situation or which hospital or doctor you visit, if the newborn's jaundice progressively worsens, it is advisable to seek medical attention at a larger hospital for examination and treatment.
What should I do if the neonatal jaundice does not go away?
Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms in the neonatal period. It can be a physiological manifestation in the normal development process of newborns, but it can also be an external symptom of certain diseases. Generally, the duration of normal physiological jaundice should not exceed two weeks for full-term infants and four weeks for premature infants. If the jaundice lasts too long, recurs, or is severe, pathological jaundice should be considered. Pathological jaundice might be a manifestation of certain diseases, with bilirubin levels being one of the indicators. If it is accompanied by other discomforts, such as significant vomiting, abdominal distension or diarrhea, drowsiness, refusal to feed, or fever, this indicates a more serious condition. If the jaundice does not subside, it is recommended to seek prompt medical attention at a hospital. If there is a clear pathological cause, intervention and possibly inpatient treatment are required.
Reasons for the slow resolution of neonatal jaundice
Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms in the newborn period. It can be a normal physiological phenomenon or a manifestation of certain diseases. Jaundice is divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Generally, physiological jaundice in full-term infants lasts no more than two weeks, while in preterm infants, it lasts no more than four weeks. If the resolution of jaundice is delayed, it indicates pathological jaundice. Pathological jaundice generally requires investigation of the cause. If the cause is not eliminated, the jaundice will persist and thus resolve slowly. For instance, if an infection is uncontrolled, or there is hemolysis, reduced thyroid function, or genetic diseases such as G6PD enzyme deficiency, abnormalities in the red blood cell membrane, or problems with the liver or bile ducts, these could all lead to slow resolution of jaundice. Therefore, if the jaundice lasts for an extended period, it is generally advisable to visit a hospital for relevant tests.
Neonatal jaundice blue light therapy
Blue light therapy is one of the most common and effective treatments for neonatal jaundice, mainly targeting jaundice due to elevated indirect bilirubin. The principal mechanism of phototherapy involves transforming bilirubin into isomers, turning it from lipid-soluble to water-soluble, which can then be excreted through bile and urine without liver synthesis. Generally, the need for light therapy indicates a severe level of jaundice, but it is important to ascertain the type of bilirubin elevation before starting treatment. If the elevation involves conjugated bilirubin, light therapy will not be effective. Thus, if light therapy is necessary, it should be confirmed that the liver function issue involves elevated indirect bilirubin, in which case the effects of phototherapy are usually positive. The duration of treatment typically depends on the degree of jaundice and whether there are any complicating pathological factors. The method usually involves intermittent light exposure, generally spanning six to twelve hours. If the jaundice is more severe, continuous phototherapy lasting twenty-four to forty-eight hours might be required to reduce the bilirubin levels.
Does neonatal jaundice require hospitalization?
Neonatal jaundice does not necessarily require hospitalization, because the characteristics of bilirubin metabolism in newborns can lead to physiological jaundice. This happens because newborns produce an excess of bilirubin and have inadequate plasma albumin to bind with bilirubin, coupled with relatively poor bilirubin-processing ability in liver cells and distinctive characteristics in their enterohepatic circulation. Consequently, physiological jaundice is common. Babies with physiological jaundice are generally in good condition without clinical symptoms. Typically, jaundice appears on the 2nd to 3rd day after birth; for full-term infants, it usually does not last more than two weeks, and for preterm infants, it generally does not exceed one month. Moreover, the daily increase in bilirubin is not high, and the total bilirubin is not extremely elevated. In such cases, continued observation is sufficient and hospitalization is not required. However, if it is non-physiological jaundice, or pathological jaundice, hospitalization might be needed. This is indicated by jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours after birth, extremely high total bilirubin levels, or very high levels of conjugated bilirubin. In such cases, it is advisable to visit a pediatric gastroenterology clinic or a neonatal clinic promptly to investigate the cause and possibly receive hospital treatment.
When does neonatal jaundice completely go away?
Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common conditions in newborns, and it can be categorized into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice is due to the bilirubin metabolism characteristics of newborns. Generally, about 50%-60% of full-term infants and 80% of preterm infants may experience physiological jaundice. The typical pattern is that the healthy condition remains good, with jaundice appearing on the second to third day after birth for full-term infants, reaching a peak on the fourth to fifth day, and then gradually subsiding, but generally disappearing no later than two weeks. For preterm infants, jaundice usually appears from the third to fifth day after birth, peaks between the fifth and seventh day, and then gradually declines, typically not exceeding four weeks. Therefore, if it is physiological jaundice, it has a certain timeframe. If it is pathological jaundice, the duration of jaundice can vary depending on the cause, whether there was timely intervention and treatment, and the effectiveness of the treatment. Thus, if the jaundice progresses quickly and is severe, it is crucial to promptly visit the hospital, where neonatal doctors can assess the baby's condition and intervene if necessary.