Question
The newborn’s skin has turned yellow and has been diagnosed with jaundice. What is neonatal jaundice?
Answer
Neonatal jaundice is a common condition, primarily divided into physiological and pathological types. Physiological jaundice is usually caused by metabolic changes in the newborn’s red blood cells after birth, leading to the skin and whites of the eyes appearing yellow. This is a normal physiological phenomenon. Pathological jaundice, on the other hand, is due to the massive breakdown of red blood cells, resulting in elevated bilirubin levels, which may cause anemia and require treatment. First, it is necessary to determine whether the jaundice is physiological or pathological through examination in order to take appropriate measures for treatment.