Patient's question:
My baby is just over a month old. The check-up revealed high jaundice, and after undergoing blue light treatment, the doctor also recommended a brain scan. Is it necessary to do a brain scan for newborns with high jaundice?Doctor's answer:
Neonatal jaundice refers to the condition during the neonatal period where abnormal bilirubin metabolism leads to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood, resulting in the yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and sclera. It is the most common clinical issue in newborns. This condition can be categorized into two major types: physiological and pathological. Physiological jaundice generally does not require special treatment, while pathological jaundice necessitates blue light therapy to resolve the jaundice. If bilirubin encephalopathy is suspected, cranial imaging should be performed. I recommend that you seek medical guidance for medication or blue light treatment.