Question
My wife just had a baby yesterday, and today the baby’s check-up showed a jaundice level of 10. I’m not sure what the normal range should be. Is a newborn’s jaundice level of 10 high on the first day?
Answer
Newborn jaundice refers to the condition in the neonatal period where an abnormal metabolism of bilirubin leads to an elevated level of bilirubin in the blood, causing yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and sclerae. This is the most common clinical problem in newborns. The disease can be classified into physiological and pathological types. If jaundice appears within 24 hours after birth, it should be considered pathological jaundice. The specific situation of the yellowing should be monitored for bilirubin levels. It is generally recommended to treat jaundice with medication or blue light therapy. I suggest communicating the child’s situation with the doctor in detail.