Question
My baby has been born for about three days, and starting from this morning, the baby’s body has become slightly yellowish, and he has also shown signs of excessive drowsiness and difficulty waking up. Does the baby’s jaundice affect sleep?
Answer
Jaundice in infants refers to a condition during infancy where an abnormal metabolism of bilirubin leads to an elevated level of bilirubin in the blood, resulting in yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and sclera. This is one of the most common clinical issues in infants. The disease can be divided into two main categories: physiological and pathological. Physiological jaundice usually does not require special treatment and does not affect sleep. Pathological jaundice requires phototherapy and may lead to kernicterus, affecting neurological function.