Where to test for neonatal jaundice

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on April 04, 2025
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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.

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Written by Shi Ji Peng
Pediatrics
53sec home-news-image

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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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
1min 2sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 15sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Is it useful for newborns with jaundice to take probiotics?

Probiotics are useful for newborn jaundice. After oral administration of probiotics, they help establish a normal gut microbiota in babies and then reduce the enterohepatic circulation of bilirubin, which aids in the treatment of jaundice. Common probiotics, often referred to in layman's terms as live bacteria, include species like Saccharomyces boulardii, Bifidobacterium, or Lactobacillus, among others. These probiotics are available in pharmacies. Generally, for newborns, especially those who are breastfed and do not recover well from jaundice, oral probiotics can have a therapeutic effect on reducing jaundice, so it is suitable for newborn babies to consume certain probiotics.