Question
A one-year-old infant is showing a yellowish discoloration of the skin, diagnosed by a doctor as jaundice. What should be the normal range of jaundice in newborns? How can one determine through medical examination if the jaundice is caused by a disease?
Answer
The normal range for newborn jaundice is typically a total bilirubin level below 34μmol/L. If an infant’s bilirubin levels exceed this value, it may indicate that the jaundice is caused by a disease. To determine the cause of the jaundice, it is recommended to undergo liver and bile ultrasound, blood routine tests, and other examinations to assess bilirubin levels. If diagnosed with jaundice caused by liver and bile diseases, treatment should be sought promptly.