Neonatal jaundice bath Chinese medicine

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on December 05, 2024
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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 pneumonia serious?

Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms in the newborn period, especially in early newborns. It can be a symptom of the normal developmental process in newborns or a manifestation of certain diseases. If a newborn has jaundice combined with pneumonia, it is possible that the pneumonia is infectious, and infection is also one of the common causes of jaundice. Therefore, if the inflammation is not controlled, it may repeatedly rebound or continue to rise. If the symptoms of pneumonia are not very severe and the baby is generally in good condition with not particularly high infection indicators, general anti-infective treatment for pneumonia along with corresponding treatment to reduce jaundice will generally have no lasting impact on the baby, as long as it is cured. However, if it is a severe case of pneumonia and the situation is not particularly good, and the jaundice remains very high and severe, it might have a slight impact on the baby later on. If bilirubin encephalopathy occurs, the possibility of neurological sequelae may be greater. Generally, ordinary pneumonia combined with jaundice does not have much impact on the baby.

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How should newborns with jaundice sunbathe?

Generally, when we say that the jaundice level is high, doctors might suggest sunbathing when it approaches pathological values, and possibly taking probiotics with live bacteria to help the baby recover from jaundice. Normally, for sunbathing, it is advised not to do it through glass, and to expose the skin directly to the sun, but you should not expose the baby's eyes directly to the sun because the ultraviolet rays are too strong and may damage the eyes. Additionally, when sunbathing, if it is during the cooler seasons like winter, spring, or autumn, it is important to ensure the baby does not catch a cold. If it is summer, avoid sunbathing during times when the sun is too strong, as the baby's delicate skin might get sunburned, potentially causing harm. Therefore, it is generally best to choose conditions when the temperature is mild and the wind is not too strong, then pay attention to keeping warm or avoiding sunburn. Generally, it is not recommended to use sunscreen or shade for sunbathing; direct exposure of the skin is needed. Parents should consider the actual condition of the disease and try to make the baby as comfortable as possible, avoiding colds or sunburn. If sunbathing is not effective, it is advisable to promptly visit the hospital for a doctor to determine if treatment intervention is necessary.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Neonatal jaundice symptoms

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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Causes of neonatal jaundice

Neonatal jaundice is generally divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice is usually considered a normal phenomenon, where the baby's jaundice can naturally recede without much impact on the baby. If it is pathological jaundice, it means that the jaundice level is high, indicating a pathological condition. Pathological jaundice can be further divided into several types, the most common being elevated direct bilirubin and elevated indirect bilirubin, each with different causes. Common causes of jaundice include increased indirect bilirubin due to infections, hemolysis, and mother-infant blood type incompatibility, such as ABO incompatibility where the mother is type O and the baby is not, or the mother has HR-negative blood and the baby has HR-positive blood. Other factors include reduced thyroid function, enzyme deficiencies such as G6PD deficiency, various types of bleeding like gastrointestinal bleeding, intracranial bleeding, or asphyxia at birth. Conditions like hypoxia or acidosis in the baby can also lead to increased jaundice. Additionally, liver function damage due to viral infections like hepatitis B, cytomegalovirus, and other infectious diseases such as syphilis, as well as other viruses like rubella virus and herpes virus can elevate jaundice levels. Developmental abnormalities of the biliary tract, commonly biliary atresia or congenital bile duct dilation, can cause elevated conjugated bilirubin levels. The causes of jaundice are complex, and some causes might remain unidentified. However, if the baby's general condition is good and the jaundice is manageable, it generally does not affect the baby. If jaundice levels are high, it is advised to visit a hospital where doctors can conduct relevant tests based on the baby's specific condition to determine if treatment is needed.

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Does neonatal jaundice cause fever?

Fever in newborns with simple jaundice is relatively rare. If a newborn has jaundice accompanied by fever, it is important to be vigilant for the possibility of sepsis. Since the symptoms of sepsis in newborns are atypical and non-specific, it is essential to take this seriously. It is recommended that parents promptly take the child to the hospital for examination. A blood culture should be performed to determine if sepsis is present. If the jaundice is excessively high, active phototherapy may be necessary to reduce the bilirubin levels.