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Neonatal jaundice
What should mothers not eat if their newborn has jaundice?
Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common symptoms during the neonatal period, especially in early neonates. Neonatal jaundice is divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice is due to the physiological characteristics of the child and is considered a normal phenomenon. Generally, the degree of jaundice is not very high, so there is no need for the family to worry too much as the jaundice will subside on its own. If it is pathological jaundice, where jaundice appears earlier, progresses faster, and is more severe, then intervention and treatment are needed. Generally, jaundice is not significantly related to the mother's diet. If the baby has jaundice, the mother should strengthen breastfeeding, encouraging the baby to eat, drink, and excrete more. Good bowel and bladder movements can help with the excretion of jaundice. Therefore, if the newborn has jaundice, the mother does not need to make special changes to her diet; she should just maintain a normal diet, enhance nutrition, and promote milk secretion.
Why does neonatal jaundice recur?
Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common conditions in newborns, especially in early-born infants. If a baby has jaundice, it is important to determine whether it is physiological or pathological jaundice. If it is physiological, the jaundice will not appear too early or be too severe, and will gradually subside on its own within a certain period, typically without recurrence. If the jaundice decreases or has already subsided and then reoccurs, be vigilant for pathological jaundice. The causes of pathological jaundice are numerous and depend on the increase in bilirubin. If direct bilirubin is elevated, liver and biliary diseases should be suspected. If indirect bilirubin is elevated, it may indicate pathological factors causing destruction of red blood cells, leading to an increase in jaundice. Therefore, if there is recurring jaundice, it is advisable to seek timely medical attention at the hospital.
How to deal with neonatal jaundice hemolysis?
Neonatal hemolytic disease refers to alloimmune hemolysis caused by maternal-fetal blood type incompatibility, commonly seen in life with A, B, O blood type mismatches, and Rh blood type mismatch is less common. Once neonatal hemolytic disease is diagnosed, aggressive treatment must be pursued. Initially, phototherapy treatment is recommended, commonly referred to as blue light therapy. Additionally, medication therapy for the child is necessary, frequently involving albumin and intravenous immunoglobulin, along with the use of sodium bicarbonate to correct acidosis. If the aforementioned treatments do not yield satisfactory results, blood exchange treatment should be considered for the child. This mainly involves removing free antibodies and sensitized red blood cells from the blood, thereby alleviating hemolysis and ultimately achieving therapeutic goals. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)
Neonatal jaundice is divided into several types.
Neonatal jaundice, also known as neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, occurs when bilirubin accumulates in the body, causing yellowing of the skin or other organs; it is the most common clinical issue during the neonatal period, with over 80% of normal newborns experiencing some skin yellowing shortly after birth. Neonatal jaundice is mainly divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice is a normal phenomenon. Pathological jaundice, however, includes conditions such as excessive production of bilirubin, metabolic disorders of bilirubin, bile excretion disorders, and various other factors causing pathological jaundice. Thus, pathological jaundice requires active treatment and will not subside on its own.
Causes of neonatal jaundice
Neonatal jaundice is relatively common and its causes are usually related to the characteristics of neonatal bilirubin metabolism, which are mainly manifested in the following aspects: First, excessive production of bilirubin; second, poor ability of plasma albumin to bind bilirubin; third, poor ability of liver cells to process bilirubin; fourth, the enterohepatic circulation is more prevalent than in adults, thus making physiological jaundice more likely to occur. Furthermore, some children are affected by breastfeeding, with a portion of breastfed babies experiencing breast milk jaundice. Other factors include pathological reasons, such as viral infections common in hepatotropic viruses like cytomegalovirus, TORCH, etc.; jaundice can also occur following exposure to cold, which can lead to decreased resistance and bacterial infections; additionally, some children have jaundice due to genetic metabolic reasons.
Can newborns with jaundice drink water?
Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms in newborns. It can be a normal physiological phenomenon or an external manifestation of certain diseases. Jaundice is generally divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. The treatment of jaundice generally involves observing the progression and severity of the baby's jaundice and any accompanying symptoms. The causes of jaundice are numerous. Regarding the feeding of jaundiced infants, it is important to feed on demand and increase feeding to promote the excretion of urine and stool, which can help reduce jaundice. However, it is not advisable to feed water to newborns with jaundice. Typically, the growth and development of babies are relatively rapid in the early stages, requiring nutritional supply. Water has virtually no nutrients, but breast milk or formula feeding provides sufficient hydration for the baby's needs. Therefore, for jaundiced babies, usually within the first six months of life, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended. In special circumstances, formula supplementation may be appropriate, but feeding water is not recommended.
Where to test for neonatal jaundice
Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms during the newborn period. Generally, jaundice is monitored in hospitals after the baby is born. If the baby is discharged, jaundice still needs to be monitored. Normal physiological jaundice usually peaks around four to five days and subsides around ten days. If the baby's jaundice is higher than usual after discharge, more frequent monitoring is required. It is generally recommended that jaundice monitoring can be done at local community centers, maternal and child health hospitals, or people's hospitals with obstetrics and gynecology departments, where jaundice can typically be measured. The main test for jaundice is through transcutaneous bilirubin measurement. If the transcutaneous bilirubin measurement is high, it is necessary to confirm whether the bilirubin in the blood is high, which would require going to the hospital for a blood test and liver function test to determine the severity of the jaundice.
Will neonatal jaundice recur?
Neonatal jaundice is a common symptom during the newborn period. It can be a symptom of normal growth and development or an indication of certain diseases. Jaundice is divided into physiological and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice generally appears two to three days after birth, reaches its peak around four to five days, and subsides around ten days. Generally, the duration of jaundice in babies does not exceed two weeks, and the situation is usually manageable. Once physiological jaundice has subsided, it does not recur. If jaundice reappears after it has completely resolved, it is necessary to be cautious as it may indicate pathological jaundice. In such cases, it is advisable to visit the hospital where doctors can conduct relevant tests based on the baby's condition. If it is confirmed that the pathological jaundice needs treatment, it is recommended to intervene and treat it early.
Can neonatal jaundice be effectively treated?
Neonatal jaundice refers to the development of jaundice involving the whole body's skin and mucous membranes in newborns. For physiological jaundice in newborns, it can heal naturally. For pathological jaundice in newborns, with active treatment, including phototherapy, etiological treatment, and when necessary, administration of medications such as albumin and globulin, the more severe cases may require blood exchange treatment. Through the aforementioned treatments, neonatal jaundice can be effectively managed, so parents need not worry. If you notice jaundice in your child, actively take them to the hospital to cooperate with the doctor's treatment. In most cases, a satisfactory treatment outcome can be achieved. Parents can be reassured in this regard. (Please follow the guidance of a specialist for specific medications and do not medicate on your own.)
Do newborns with jaundice feel uncomfortable?
Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common symptoms during the newborn period. It can be a normal physiological phenomenon occurring in the baby's development process, or it may indicate some diseases. Neonatal jaundice is divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Generally, the degree of jaundice in physiological jaundice is not very high, and the general condition is still okay. The baby does not show any special discomfort. However, if it is pathological jaundice, the jaundice usually lasts longer and progresses faster with a more severe degree. There might be other discomforts, such as obvious crying and restlessness, possibly even fever, and other symptoms like sleepiness or refusal to feed. Therefore, if the jaundice is slightly high, the general condition is still manageable, and parents should not worry too much. However, if there are obvious discomforts, it is recommended to visit the hospital promptly because if a newborn baby gets sick and is not treated in time, the condition can progress quickly.