Question

The baby is 8 days old, and the jaundice has not subsided, but the baby can eat and sleep well. In the past two days, the urine and stool have turned yellow. Is this normal?

Answer

Neonatal jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin, sclera, and mucous membranes in the neonatal period, also known as neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. The causes are both special and complex. Severe cases can lead to bilirubin encephalopathy (nuclear jaundice), which often results in death and severe sequelae. Neonatal jaundice is generally divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice is a normal physiological phenomenon. Due to the metabolic characteristics of bilirubin in neonates, about 60% of full-term infants and over 80% of premature infants may develop jaundice within 3-5 days after birth, but overall, the condition is good. The jaundice in full-term infants usually resolves within 14 days, while that in premature infants may delay until the jaundice completely resolves within 3-4 weeks.