Question
After my baby was discharged from the hospital, we went to another hospital for screening, and the doctor there said the baby’s jaundice was very high and she was admitted for treatment. In the middle of the night, they informed us that the jaundice level had reached over 500 and recommended that we go to a major hospital for blood transfusion treatment. I want to ask, is a bilirubin level of 500 in a baby severe?
Answer
The baby’s bilirubin level has reached 500, indicating that her entire body, skin, and sclera are severely jaundiced. It is advisable to seek immediate medical attention, undergo blood tests and an abdominal ultrasound, receive a clear diagnosis of the type of jaundice, undergo blue light therapy, and receive aggressive treatment in the hospital. This can prevent the occurrence of bilirubin encephalopathy. If bilirubin levels in the blood exceed 342, bilirubin encephalopathy may occur, necessitating blue light therapy or blood transfusion. Bilirubin encephalopathy can cause intellectual damage, particularly to the basal ganglia of the brain, known as kernicterus.