Does neonatal jaundice need medication?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on January 22, 2025
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Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms in newborns, especially in early newborns. It is a symptom that occurs in the normal development process of newborns, but it may also be a manifestation of certain diseases. Therefore, neonatal jaundice can be a normal phenomenon, but sometimes it may be pathological. Generally, physiological jaundice, which is the normal condition, does not require intervention. Once the jaundice reaches a certain level, it will gradually subside, and the baby generally remains in good condition. At home, it is only necessary to regularly monitor the jaundice without too much worry. If the jaundice appears early and progresses quickly, it may be appropriate to take some medication to reduce the bilirubin. If the jaundice continues to rise, or the baby has other discomforts, it is then necessary to go to the hospital promptly where a neonatologist will conduct relevant examinations and intervene with timely treatment if necessary.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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What causes jaundice in newborns?

Neonatal jaundice is primarily due to the overproduction of bilirubin, which means a higher number of red blood cells are being destroyed, leading to an increased concentration of bilirubin in the blood. Additionally, there is a metabolic disorder of bilirubin in the child. The liver cells' ability to take up and bind bilirubin decreases, which can cause an increase in the concentration of unbound bilirubin in the serum, resulting in jaundice. This mainly occurs in cases of hypoxia, infection, and some congenital diseases, among others. Certain medications and reduced thyroid function can also present this symptom. The third issue is an impairment in the bile's ability to excrete bilirubin, which can occur when the child has neonatal hepatitis or congenital metabolic defects, leading to jaundice.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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When does neonatal jaundice go away?

Neonatal jaundice is a common phenomenon in the newborn period, with 80% of full-term infants visibly exhibiting jaundice. Jaundice is divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. In full-term infants, physiological jaundice generally lasts about two weeks and ordinarily subsides within that time. For preterm infants, it typically does not last more than four weeks. However, if the jaundice progresses quickly, appears early, and is severe, reaching pathological levels, intervention and treatment are necessary. The duration of jaundice can vary depending on the baby’s condition. Without intervention, the duration of jaundice may be prolonged. Therefore, it is advisable to regularly monitor jaundice and actively intervene with treatment if abnormalities are present.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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What to do with neonatal jaundice?

Neonatal jaundice is the most common disease in newborns, mainly characterized by yellowing of the skin. Generally, normal babies also exhibit jaundice, but this is a type of physiological jaundice. If the baby's jaundice appears early, such as within twenty-four hours, or if the jaundice progresses rapidly with significantly rising jaundice levels, or if it is particularly severe, or if the jaundice lasts for a long duration, or if the jaundice recurs after fading, these are considered pathological jaundice. It is generally advised for pathological jaundice to consult a neonatal specialist for a detailed examination of the baby to determine whether treatment intervention is necessary. If the jaundice is severe and parents are worried, it is recommended to go to the hospital in a timely manner, as hospitalization for treatment may be needed. If the jaundice level is too high and there are some pathological factors, and parents are unable to observe the baby well and the baby's condition is not good, and the jaundice continues to rise, it could potentially progress to the brain, leading to bilirubin encephalopathy, which is a serious complication. Therefore, high jaundice levels still require timely intervention. If the jaundice is at its peak, it is recommended to test for jaundice daily, as timely intervention when jaundice levels are high can prevent serious complications.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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What does a newborn jaundice blood test check for?

Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms during the neonatal period. It may indicate both normal developmental processes and certain diseases. If it is normal physiological jaundice, there is no need for blood tests. However, if pathological jaundice is suspected, blood tests are generally required. The most common test is a liver function test to determine the level of bilirubin in the blood. Additional tests might be conducted, especially if there is an incompatibility in the blood type between the mother and child. In such cases, tests for the baby's blood type and hemolysis are necessary, along with tests for common infection markers. If the mother had other abnormalities before pregnancy, further blood tests might be warranted based on potential conditions that the baby might exhibit.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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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.)