Question
My baby was just born and has a slight jaundice. I took them to the hospital for a check-up and the doctor suggested that we expose the baby to sunlight at home. I would like to know, how long should a newborn be exposed to the sunlight for jaundice?
Answer
Jaundice can be physiological or pathological. Pathological jaundice appears earlier and is more severe, with symptoms such as drowsiness, difficulty waking up, and refusal to breastfeed. It requires blood tests or transcutaneous bilirubin measurements for diagnosis. Pathological jaundice requires hospitalization and treatment, including oral jaundice-reducing medication, blue light therapy, and appropriate probiotic intake. The duration of sun exposure is usually about half an hour, but there is no specific standard.