Patient's question:
My baby is three days old, and their face and skin are yellow. Today's check-up revealed physiological jaundice. I heard that if the jaundice level is too high, the child needs to be hospitalized for treatment. Is a bilirubin level of over 19 considered high for my child?Doctor's answer:
When the jaundice index of a full-term baby is greater than 12, or the jaundice index of a preterm baby is greater than 15, pathological jaundice should be considered. Observe the baby's mental state and breastfeeding situation. It is essential to let the baby get more sunlight, and oral medication may be necessary if needed. If the baby shows symptoms such as poor mental state or poor feeding, symptomatic treatments such as blue light irradiation, albumin, and immunoglobulin should be taken if necessary. It is still recommended to closely monitor the baby's condition.