Patient's question:
After my child was born, his complexion was particularly yellow. I searched online and found it's called jaundice. I didn't eat any unhealthy food during my pregnancy, so I'd like to ask why jaundice occurs?Doctor's answer:
Jaundice in babies is common among most infants. This is because babies have a short red blood cell metabolism cycle, leading to excessive production of bilirubin, while their liver's ability to excrete bilirubin is weak. This results in the accumulation of bilirubin in the baby's body, causing jaundice. Additionally, other causes such as blood type incompatibility between mother and baby, viral infections, and liver or bile duct diseases can also lead to jaundice.When a child is born and their skin and face turn yellow, this is known as neonatal jaundice. It refers to a condition during the neonatal period where abnormal bilirubin metabolism causes elevated bilirubin levels in the blood, resulting in symptoms such as yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and sclera. It is the most common clinical issue among newborns.