Neonatal jaundice symptoms

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 22, 2024
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Neonatal jaundice is most commonly seen in the skin and mucous membranes, and the sclera, or what we refer to as the eyes, presenting with a yellow discoloration of the white part. The most common symptom is yellowing of the skin. There may also be other symptoms such as crying and restlessness, fever, or rapid and irregular breathing. Some babies might sleep longer than usual, have difficulty feeding, or experience issues with bowel movements, such as a significant decrease in stool frequency or a reduction in urine output. These could be accompanying symptoms of neonatal jaundice. Each baby presents differently with jaundice; more accompanying symptoms often indicate a more severe condition. If the jaundice is limited to skin discoloration without other significant symptoms, it may indicate an early stage of the condition. Generally, if the jaundice is pronounced, it is considered pathological jaundice, and it is advisable to go to the hospital. A pediatric specialist can conduct relevant examinations and decide if immediate intervention and treatment are necessary.

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Is a newborn jaundice level of 15.8 serious?

Neonatal jaundice of 15.8 is relatively high. Whether this is serious depends primarily on which day after birth the jaundice value of 15.8 appears. If it occurs within the first three days after birth, a jaundice value of 15.8 is considered serious. Furthermore, the earlier it appears, the more severe the child's condition is. For example, if the child shows a jaundice value of 15.8 at 48 hours old, it is less severe compared to it appearing within the first 24 hours after birth. Therefore, once jaundice is observed, it is important to investigate the possible causes, such as hemolytic disease, infection, infant hepatitis, or biliary atresia. Identifying the specific cause allows for targeted treatment of the condition, while also actively treating the jaundice in the child.

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Newborn jaundice, how long does it fade?

Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms during the neonatal period. It can be a normal physiological phenomenon, or it may be an external manifestation of certain diseases. Neonatal jaundice is divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice does not require intervention, and the baby's general condition is still acceptable. Typically, physiological jaundice in full-term infants appears between two to three days after birth, peaks at four to five days, and subsides around ten days, generally not lasting more than two weeks. In preterm infants, it may last slightly longer, but generally, jaundice does not exceed four weeks. If the progression of jaundice is rapid, severe, or appears early, pathological jaundice might be considered. Pathological jaundice may be due to certain pathological factors causing abnormal jaundice. Depending on the cause of the disease and whether there is timely intervention and treatment for jaundice, the resolution time may also vary.

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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.

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Neonatal jaundice peak period is a few days.

Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms during the neonatal period; it could be a normal physiological phenomenon, or it might be an external manifestation of certain diseases. Typically, physiological jaundice appears two to three days after birth, reaches its peak within four to five days in full-term infants, and may appear sooner and be more severe in preterm infants due to their less mature liver function. The peak period lasts longer for preterm babies; generally, in full-term infants, jaundice usually starts declining about a week later, subsiding around ten days, generally not lasting more than two weeks.

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Is a bilirubin level of 20 high for a newborn?

If a newborn's skin jaundice reaches a level of twenty, it is a warning sign that the jaundice is significantly elevated. It is advised to promptly go to the hospital for an examination. If the bilirubin levels in the blood are indeed that high, timely intervention and treatment are necessary. Normally, for physiological jaundice, the levels should not exceed fifteen after seventy-two hours in infants. Even during the peak period of four to five days, it should not surpass fifteen. If the jaundice noticeably increases within the first three days and exceeds twenty, the severity of the jaundice might be worse. The younger the newborn, especially with levels above twenty, the higher the risk of bilirubin entering the brain, potentially leading to bilirubin encephalopathy. Therefore, with jaundice reaching twenty, it is still recommended to promptly go to the hospital for intervention and treatment.