Question
What factors cause neonatal jaundice? At what level of jaundice index can a newborn be considered healthy? What are the current treatments being sought for neonatal jaundice?
Answer
The occurrence of neonatal jaundice is mainly due to a sudden increase in oxygen partial pressure after birth, leading to rapid breakdown of red blood cells and the production of more bilirubin. Since the enzyme activity in a newborn’s liver is relatively low, it cannot effectively clear excessive bilirubin, resulting in the jaundice phenomenon. Additionally, children who are breastfed are more prone to jaundice, which may be due to the chemical substances and hormones in breast milk that could be another factor causing jaundice. However, this type of jaundice is often physiological and harmless to the newborn, so mothers should be encouraged to continue breastfeeding.