Patient's question:
I don't know what's going on, but my child has been misbehaving and crying non-stop lately. Even the hospital check-ups haven't helped. Could you please tell me what the normal bilirubin level is before medication is needed?Doctor's answer:
There are four indicators to determine if jaundice is severe:(1) Severe jaundice, with the highest total bilirubin level exceeding 229 μmol/L, or exceeding 250 μmol/L in premature infants.
(2) Jaundice recurs repeatedly, reappearing after fading, with a rapid daily increase in jaundice levels.
(3) Prolonged jaundice duration, lasting more than 3 weeks in premature infants or more than 14 days in full-term infants, is abnormal.
(4) In addition to yellowing of the face and torso skin, if the forearms, palms, soles, and palms are also yellow, the condition is considered severe.
Some babies may have healthy, rosy skin at birth, but shortly after breastfeeding, their skin turns yellow and the jaundice persists for a long time. However, the baby is able to eat and sleep well, with a good mood. Tests show that bilirubin levels are usually below 20 mg per 100 mL of blood. The baby’s liver and spleen are normal-sized, there is no anemia, white blood cell counts are not elevated, and liver function is normal. This is known as breast milk jaundice.