Patient's question:
My baby is now two months old. A few days ago, my mother-in-law asked me to take the child to the children's hospital for a jaundice check-up. Neither my husband nor I knew what to check. Could you please tell me what tests are done for newborn jaundice?Doctor's answer:
The detection of bilirubin is an important indicator for diagnosing neonatal jaundice. The concentrations of serum bilirubin, red blood cells, hemoglobin, reticulocytes, and nucleated red blood cells can be measured using venous blood or microhemoglobin methods. Neonatal jaundice requires routine examination, which helps in the screening for hemolytic disease. When hemolytic disease occurs, red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels decrease, while reticulocyte levels increase. It is recommended to actively treat jaundice if present.