Question
Hospital physicians point out that the baby’s bilirubin index is elevated, dropping to 8 after one session of phototherapy, but then rising back to 11 after discontinuing the phototherapy. On the second day of hospital treatment, the baby was diagnosed with pneumonia. How should neonates with jaundice and pneumonia be treated?
Answer
Neonatal pneumonia may increase metabolic processes in the body, leading to accelerated aging and destruction of red blood cells. Additionally, viruses may directly cause liver cell necrosis, ultimately resulting in bile pigment excretion obstruction and triggering neonatal jaundice. Therefore, parents need to actively treat neonatal pneumonia. Usually, after the infection is eliminated, jaundice will regress. The main symptoms of neonatal pneumonia include difficulty breathing, respiratory problems, and asphyxia, which may lead to respiratory failure in severe cases. Infectious pneumonia often accompanies high fever. Neonatal pneumonia progresses rapidly and requires special attention; it usually requires hospitalization. Most neonates will experience jaundice during pneumonia.