Patient's question:
The baby is just five days old. Today, I took it for a jaundice test and found that the level had risen to 17. It also looks quite yellow. The doctor said medication is necessary, or else if it keeps being high, it could lead to kernicterus. I got scared hearing this. Could you please ask the doctor if a newborn with a jaundice level of 17 will develop kernicterus?Doctor's answer:
Jaundice has some limitations. Generally, the color of jaundice is not golden yellow. If bilirubin is measured in the blood, the peak level of jaundice in full-term infants does not exceed 12 mg/dL, and in preterm infants, it does not exceed 15 mg/dL. Your baby is currently 17 words, which is relatively high and requires medication to treat jaundice. However, this value generally does not cause kernicterus. If it is physiological jaundice, it does not require special treatment. If it is pathological jaundice, further tests are needed to determine the specific cause of jaundice. Targeted treatment, actively controlling bilirubin levels, and preventing complications are necessary.