How to care for neonatal jaundice

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 15, 2024
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Neonatal jaundice is generally divided into physiological and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice usually does not require special intervention. During the peak period of jaundice, it is important to pay attention to feeding the baby. Strengthening feeding and encouraging the baby to defecate and urinate more can help reduce the jaundice. On the other hand, if the baby has pathological jaundice, it is advised to visit a hospital. A neonatal specialist will carefully examine the baby to determine whether special treatment is needed. Pathological jaundice is often just one symptom of a disease and there may be other pathological factors involved. Care at home for babies with jaundice should include careful feeding to prevent choking, monitoring bowel movements and urination, attending to buttock care, and observing the baby's mental state, reactions during feeding, and monitoring their temperature. Parents of babies with pathological jaundice should seek timely treatment and intervention from a doctor based on the baby's condition.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 3sec home-news-image

What is the normal bilirubin value for newborn jaundice?

Neonatal jaundice is the most common occurrence during the newborn period, and it is routine to monitor jaundice in babies after birth until they are one month old. During the peak period of jaundice, the frequency of testing tends to increase. Normally, we say that jaundice levels should not exceed 6 within 24 hours, 9 within 48 hours, 12 within 72 hours, and ideally not exceed 15 after 72 hours. If the levels are higher than these values, or if the jaundice progresses too quickly, meaning that the rate increases by more than five milligrams per deciliter every twenty-four hours, this might indicate a pathological condition. In such cases, it is advisable to go to the hospital promptly for a specialist neonatologist to conduct a detailed examination of the baby to see if intervention is needed. Generally, if the baby's jaundice level has risen, it is best to monitor jaundice daily whenever possible after two weeks.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 16sec home-news-image

Neonatal jaundice bath Chinese medicine

Neonatal jaundice is called "fetal jaundice" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It primarily refers to infants born with jaundice as the main symptom, characterized by yellowing of the skin and facial area. This condition is related to prenatal constitution, hence it is also known as fetal jaundice or fetal dyspepsia. The causes of fetal jaundice are divided into internal and external factors. Internal factors involve the fetus being affected by the toxins of damp-heat or the evil of deficient-cold and damp-cold from the mother. External factors mainly include the baby being affected by damp-heat or cold-damp evils during or after birth, with damp-heat evils being more common. The main affected organs are the liver, gallbladder, spleen, and stomach, with the key pathogenic mechanism being prenatal damp retention. Commonly used Chinese herbal baths for neonatal jaundice, particularly suitable for damp-heat type jaundice, are generally selected based on the specific conditions of the child, adjusting formulas like Yinchenhao Tang to tailor to the exact pattern of the baby.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Is neonatal jaundice seriously high?

Neonatal jaundice is a common phenomenon in the neonatal period, divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. If it is pathological jaundice and there is no active intervention, the continuous increase of jaundice can significantly affect the baby. There might be severe sequelae, such as a significant rise in indirect bilirubin, which could lead to bilirubin encephalopathy, affecting the normal function of his nervous system, leading to abnormalities in hearing or cognitive and motor development delays. In severe cases, it could even lead to the baby's death. If conjugated bilirubin is elevated, there might be abnormalities in liver function. If not promptly treated, there could be liver damage or failure, which in severe cases may also threaten the baby's life. Therefore, it is advisable to seek prompt medical attention and treatment if jaundice levels are high.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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neonatal jaundice subsidence time

Neonatal jaundice is a common phenomenon and a unique condition in newborns. If it is normal physiological jaundice, it generally subsides within two weeks for full-term infants born after 37 weeks. This means that after two weeks, the jaundice is essentially gone; the skin and eyes are no longer yellow, and bilirubin levels are typically below 6-7, which is considered normal. For premature infants, the jaundice generally clears within four weeks. If the jaundice persists longer, there might be some pathological factors involved, and it is advisable to visit a hospital for a thorough evaluation by a doctor to determine if any special treatment is needed.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Will newborn jaundice cause the ears to turn yellow?

Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms in neonates, especially in early newborns. It can be a symptom of normal development in newborns, or it can be a manifestation of certain diseases. Jaundice is generally divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice, with the main symptom being the yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes. Typically, jaundice starts from the face and then spreads to the trunk and limbs. If the degree of jaundice is relatively severe, yellowing will appear on the entire body, including the ears. Generally, if the baby is visibly yellow, it is advisable to monitor the jaundice. If the jaundice value is significantly high and confirmed to be high in the blood, it is considered pathological jaundice, and it is recommended to seek timely intervention and treatment.