Question
My sister recently gave birth to a child in the hospital, but the child now has a jaundice issue. So everyone at home is very worried. How long does neonatal jaundice take to clear up?
Answer
Neonatal jaundice comes in two types: physiological jaundice and breastmilk jaundice. Physiological jaundice begins 2-3 days after birth, is most pronounced 4-5 days later, and naturally disappears within 7-14 days, generally with no adverse reactions. Premature infants have less mature liver function, and jaundice may appear on the third or fourth day, lasting longer, up to 14 days or even longer. Breastmilk jaundice starts around 4-7 days after birth and lasts for about 2 months, primarily characterized by non-bound bilirubin elevation without clinical symptoms. Therefore, the time for neonatal jaundice to clear up varies depending on the type, usually disappearing naturally within two weeks.