Question

What is neonatal jaundice? Is this condition severe? How should it be treated?

Answer

The primary cause of neonatal jaundice is that during the fetal period, due to the need for oxygen provided by the mother, the oxygen content in the fetal blood is relatively insufficient. Therefore, the fetal blood requires more red blood cells to compensate for the insufficient oxygen in each red blood cell. After the baby is born and begins to establish its own respiration, it directly inhales oxygen, at which point the oxygen supply is sufficient, and no longer requires an excess of red blood cells to carry oxygen. This leads to the body breaking down the excess red blood cells, producing an excessive amount of bilirubin. Additionally, the neonate’s liver transformation function is not fully matured, unable to fully undertake the task of transforming and excreting bilirubin from the body. At the same time, the neonate’s normal intestinal flora has not been established, making it impossible for bilirubin that enters the intestines through bile to be further transformed and excreted.