Question

How should a newborn’s jaundice level of 140 be converted? What index does the doctor use to determine the jaundice level?

Answer

The conversion method for jaundice levels is that 1mg/dl equals 17.1umol/l. If the 11 you mentioned is 11 mg/dL, further information about the child’s date of birth is needed to determine the nature of the jaundice.

  1. Physiological Jaundice: This usually occurs between 2-5 days after birth, with full-term infants’ jaundice resolving within 14 days, while premature infants require 3-4 weeks. The serum bilirubin level for full-term infants is 205μmol/l (12mg/dl), and for premature infants, it is 257μmol/l (15mg/dl).
  2. Pathological Jaundice: If the jaundice appears within 24 hours after birth, it is considered pathological. The serum bilirubin level for full-term newborns is 205μmol/l (12mg/dl), and for premature infants, it is 257μmol/l (15mg/dl).