Patient's question:
November 10th, alright.Doctor's answer:
There are two types of jaundice in babies: physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice refers to the yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes in newborns starting from 2-3 days of age, without other symptoms. This type of jaundice lasts for a short duration and resolves on its own within 7-10 days. Premature infants may take 3-4 weeks to recover. Ultraviolet light exposure or increased sunlight exposure can also help in recovery.Pathological jaundice, on the other hand, refers to jaundice that does not subside. The most important reference data for assessing jaundice in infants is serum bilirubin levels. When the total serum bilirubin exceeds 205 μmol/L and is accompanied by various clinical symptoms, pathological jaundice should be considered. Further medical evaluation is necessary for diagnosis and treatment.
The main types of pathological jaundice include:
1. Hemolytic jaundice. This occurs when there is an incompatibility between the ABO or Rh blood types of the mother and baby, leading to the destruction and hemolysis of a large number of red blood cells in the newborn.
2. Hepatocellular jaundice. This is caused by damage to liver cells, such as in cases of neonatal hepatitis, resulting in an increase in both unconjugated and conjugated bilirubin.
3. Obstructive jaundice. This is due to congenital biliary atresia or biliary obstruction, where conjugated bilirubin cannot be excreted by the liver. Excessive accumulation of conjugated bilirubin in the liver leads to the rupture of bile canaliculi, causing it to reflux into the bloodstream.