Patient's question:
Please ask if neonatal jaundice will no longer have the possibility of developing kernicterus after it subsides? Is blood tests still needed to check serum total bilirubin after jaundice disappears? Is high serum total bilirubin reflected in the jaundice value?Doctor's answer:
Neonatal jaundice refers to a condition where the skin, mucous membranes, and sclera of newborns turn yellow due to elevated blood bilirubin levels caused by abnormal bilirubin metabolism. This condition is primarily caused by neonatal hemolytic disease. Physiological jaundice typically appears 2-3 days after birth, peaks between 4-6 days, and resolves within 7-10 days. Premature infants may experience a longer duration, with mild appetite loss as the only clinical symptom, and it does not require treatment.