Question
The baby’s skin turned yellow after birth and was diagnosed with jaundice. What is neonatal jaundice?
Answer
Neonatal jaundice is a common phenomenon, primarily divided into physiological and pathological types. Physiological jaundice occurs due to metabolic changes in red blood cells after birth, causing the skin and whites of the eyes to appear yellow. This is a normal physiological process. Pathological jaundice, on the other hand, is caused by the breakdown of a large number of red blood cells, leading to elevated bilirubin levels, which may result in anemia and requires appropriate treatment. First, it is important to determine whether the jaundice is physiological or pathological, so that appropriate measures can be taken.