Question
If a newborn baby shows jaundice on the 4th day, is it necessary to undergo blue light therapy or can they be treated at home by exposing to sunlight? What should be noted? Does glucose help in the treatment?
Answer
For physiological jaundice, no treatment is needed. Pay attention to keeping the newborn warm, providing appropriate early feeding, ensuring adequate water and heat intake, which helps in excreting bilirubin and reducing the severity of physiological jaundice. At the same time, identify whether there is pathological jaundice. Most newborns show jaundice within 2 to 3 days after birth, and it may appear as late as the 5th day. Jaundice that appears after the 5th day should be considered pathological. Full-term infants will disappear within 10 to 14 days after birth. About 80% of premature infants will show jaundice after birth, which can be resolved within 3 to 4 weeks. Physiological jaundice does not accompany other symptoms, and infants generally show good mental and reactive performance. Some newborns may have slightly suboptimal feeding.