Question
With a jaundice index of 16, is this value within the normal range for a 33-day-old infant? Has no abnormality been found during the newborn screening, and can breastfeeding continue? Should special attention be paid to this situation?
Answer
The normal range for newborn jaundice is determined by the level of serum bilirubin. For full-term infants, the serum bilirubin level should not exceed 204 micrograms/mL (12 mg/dL), while for premature infants, it should not exceed 255 micrograms/mL (15 mg/dL). Physiological jaundice has minimal impact on the infant’s appetite and mental state, with symptoms such as yellowing of the skin typically resolving naturally within a month. However, pathological jaundice in infants not only causes yellowing of the skin but may also lead to symptoms such as crying, irritability, and refusal to eat.