Patient's question:
My baby was only two days old when the doctor said he had mild jaundice and prescribed some medication before discharging him. After taking the medicine for a few days, I don't know how to determine if the jaundice has completely gone away. Should it be 0 when it's completely gone?Doctor's answer:
Hello child, jaundice has completely subsided but not down to zero. Blood test results for liver function: total bilirubin below 2 mg/dL. Clinically, subsidence that is not completely gone is considered basically gone, and the jaundice is not visibly noticeable. To determine if the jaundice has fully resolved, you should start by observing the baby's eyes. If the eyes are not yellow, it is likely that the jaundice has cleared. You can also press your hand against the baby's skin—if it turns white, this indicates that the jaundice has resolved. However, if the pressed area turns yellow, it means the jaundice has not subsided, and medical treatment is needed at the hospital.