Patient's question:
My child was just born this year, why does the baby have jaundice at such a young age? It's said to be physiological jaundice in newborns. What is this condition all about? How can a baby be so young and already have this disease? How does one get this condition?Doctor's answer:
Hello, in medicine, jaundice in babies under the age of one month (born within 28 days) is referred to as neonatal jaundice. Neonatal jaundice refers to a condition characterized by jaundice in the skin, mucous membranes, and sclera, caused by elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood due to abnormal bilirubin metabolism during the neonatal period. This condition is divided into physiological and pathological types. Physiological jaundice typically appears 2 to 3 days after birth, peaks between 4 to 6 days, and resolves within 7 to 10 days. In premature infants, the duration is longer, and it is accompanied only by mild loss of appetite without other clinical symptoms. If jaundice appears within 24 hours after birth and persists for 2 to 3 weeks without resolving, or if it worsens after initially improving, or if it reappears after resolution, or if it does not appear until one week to several weeks after birth, it is considered pathological jaundice.