Question
After being treated with blue light therapy for high bilirubin levels at birth and discharged on the third day post-treatment, the parents noticed that the newborn’s skin color turned yellow again on the second day after discharge. Does this mean that the jaundice has rebounded? In this case, can blue light therapy be used again for treatment?
Answer
In China, blue light therapy is the most commonly used method for treating newborn jaundice. During the treatment process, the newborn is placed in a phototherapy box, with their eyes protected by black eye masks to prevent retinal damage, and the genital and anal areas are covered with diapers. The treatment duration is typically 2 to 48 hours, generally not exceeding four days, until the bilirubin level drops below 7mg/dl before treatment is stopped. If jaundice rebounds, blue light therapy can be continued.