Question
My baby was born with a high bilirubin level, and their skin has turned a yellowish color. How should neonatal jaundice be treated?
Answer
Your baby is suffering from neonatal jaundice. Generally, the bilirubin level measured through skin tests should be below 10 (values may vary slightly due to different instruments); if a blood test is required, the normal bilirubin level should be below 205 umol/l (12 mg/dl). The normal total bilirubin level for a healthy infant at 30 days old is between 1.7 to 17.1 umol/l (0.1 to 1.0 mg/dl). Direct bilirubin is between 0 to 6.8 umol/l (0 to 0.4 mg/dl), and indirect bilirubin is between 1.7 to 10.2 umol/l (0.1 to 0.6 mg/dl). Urine tests are necessary to determine the actual bilirubin level.