Question
After a three-day-old check-up, the baby was found to have elevated jaundice levels, reaching 18 on the eleventh day. After receiving phototherapy and medication, the baby exhibited crying and decreased appetite. Does neonatal jaundice affect weight gain, and to what extent?
Answer
Physiological jaundice is a common occurrence in newborns and usually does not affect weight gain. According to serum bilirubin reference indices, full-term infants’ jaundice levels should not exceed 204 micromoles/liter (12 mg/dL), while premature infants should not exceed 255 micromoles/liter (15 mg/dL) to be within the normal range. Infants with physiological jaundice, aside from having yellowed skin, are generally unaffected by appetite and mental state, and symptoms often resolve spontaneously before the end of the first month. However, pathological jaundice may affect a baby’s weight gain, as infants with pathological jaundice not only exhibit skin changes,