Patient's question:
Baby is about to be born. I recently saw on TV that newborns can suffer from jaundice, which is very difficult to treat. It made me very uneasy and I'm a bit worried. I'd like to ask how to handle newborn jaundice?Doctor's answer:
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 classified as either physiological or pathological. 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 prolonged duration of jaundice, with mild symptoms such as poor appetite or decreased appetite, but no other clinical manifestations.