Question
The newborn was checked for jaundice three days after birth, and the result showed a high level. After eleven days, the jaundice value reached 18. The baby received blue light therapy and medication for three days. During this period, the baby cried and had a decreased appetite. Does neonatal jaundice affect weight gain?
Answer
Physiological jaundice is a common phenomenon in newborns and usually does not affect weight gain. The normal range of neonatal jaundice is based on serum bilirubin levels, with full-term infants not exceeding 204 micromoles/liter (12 mg/dL) and preterm infants not exceeding 255 micromoles/liter (15 mg/dL) as normal. Besides the yellowing of the skin, physiological jaundice has little impact on appetite and mental state, and symptoms usually disappear spontaneously within a month. However, pathological jaundice is different. In addition to skin changes, affected infants often have symptoms such as crying, fussiness, and refusal to breastfeed. In such cases