Question
A newborn male baby, shortly after being born in the hospital, was found to have a jaundice level of 11.6. The family is confused about the meaning of the jaundice level and its impact on the newborn’s health, and they hope to understand whether this value falls within the normal range.
Answer
A newborn’s jaundice level of 11.6 is within the normal range and is typically categorized as physiological jaundice. The jaundice level reflects the concentration of serum bilirubin in the blood, used to assess the severity of jaundice. In this case, the baby generally does not require special treatment. It is recommended that the family encourage the baby to drink warm water frequently, and can give a small amount of glucose water appropriately. Additionally, it is suggested to arrange for the baby to receive natural sunlight at appropriate times each day to promote the fading of jaundice.