Question
A two-month-old baby is experiencing symptoms of reduced appetite, upper abdominal bloating, nausea, and vomiting and has been diagnosed with jaundice. What are the different types of neonatal jaundice and how should they be distinguished?
Answer
Neonatal jaundice can be divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice is usually a temporary jaundice caused by the characteristics of bilirubin metabolism, which may be due to lifestyle, genetic family history, delivery method, gestational age, and dietary patterns, and generally resolves on its own after a period of time. Pathological jaundice is usually divided into three types: hemolytic jaundice, liver jaundice, and obstructive jaundice. Breast milk jaundice is a special case where the baby may exhibit yellow skin when consuming breast milk; stopping breast milk feeding usually leads to the gradual disappearance of jaundice symptoms.