Patient's question:
Jaundice with the entire body turning yellow, it's a baby, discovered today. Jaundice seems to require a blood transfusion. I want to ask the experts what condition the baby is in and if a blood transfusion is needed. Is it necessary to have a blood transfusion if the baby's jaundice level is 260?Doctor's answer:
Dear Parent,Your baby has jaundice. There are many factors that can cause jaundice. The best treatment for jaundice currently is early blue light therapy. If the bilirubin level is too high, a blood transfusion may be necessary. The purpose of a blood transfusion is to remove the excessive bilirubin from the blood, as it could otherwise cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the baby's brain, potentially causing bilirubin encephalopathy and affecting the baby's intelligence.