Patient's question:
A newborn baby is 30 days old, and their face is very yellow. Today, they went to a nearby hospital for a check-up, and the doctor said the jaundice level is too high, at 18. They are very worried. What factors could be causing this? Is it dangerous? How should newborn jaundice be treated? Is it serious?Doctor's answer:
The baby's jaundice index is 18. Generally, newborn jaundice reaches its peak around one week and subsides around fourteen days. However, since it has been one month and the baby is still jaundiced, it may cause certain harm to the baby. It is recommended to consult a pediatric expert in traditional Chinese medicine. Based on the condition, they can prescribe some traditional Chinese medicine to clear heat, reduce dampness, alleviate jaundice, and strengthen the spleen and stomach. It is also advisable to expose the baby to natural light appropriately, give them glucose water, and maintain regular bowel movements. If the condition worsens further, a blood transfusion may be necessary. This is usually caused by hemolytic jaundice or liver function damage.