Question
I checked my baby’s transcutaneous bilirubin level at 11.0 at the hospital, and he is 16 days old. Is this level high? The doctor said we might need to be hospitalized. I took Erythromycin, and the instructions say that the bilirubin level may increase. Do you think this is related?
Answer
Newborn jaundice refers to a condition in the neonatal period where abnormal bilirubin metabolism leads to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood, manifesting as jaundice in the skin, mucous membranes, and sclera. This condition can be classified into physiological and pathological types. Physiological jaundice usually appears 2 to 3 days after birth, reaches its peak at 4 to 6 days, and subsides between 7 to 10 days. Premature infants may have a longer duration, with only slight loss of appetite without other clinical symptoms. If jaundice appears within 24 hours of birth and does not subside after 2 to 3 weeks, or if it deepens and recurs after subsiding, or if it appears one week to several weeks after birth, it is considered pathological jaundice. Based on the information you provided, your baby’s transcutaneous bilirubin level is 11.0. This level falls under mild jaundice, possibly within the range of physiological jaundice. The doctor’s recommendation for hospitalization may be to observe and determine the cause of the jaundice. Erythromycin may cause an increase in bilirubin levels, but whether there is a direct relationship needs further assessment by the doctor. It is recommended that you follow the doctor’s advice and undergo the necessary examinations and treatments.