Patient's question:
My baby was just born three days ago, and now the jaundice level is measured at 16. The baby's face is yellow. The doctor at the hospital has asked us to be hospitalized for treatment. I'm worried about the baby's condition being quite serious. I want to ask if a jaundice level of 16 is pathological?Doctor's answer:
For jaundice in infants refers to a condition during the baby period when abnormal bilirubin metabolism leads to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood, resulting in symptoms characterized by yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and sclera. It is the most common clinical issue in infants. This condition can be classified as physiological or pathological. Based on the current bilirubin index measurement, a level of 16 mg/dL indicates pathological jaundice, requiring treatment with blue light therapy to reduce bilirubin levels.