Question
A newborn experienced elevated bilirubin levels at 47 days after birth, and after undergoing blue light therapy, the bilirubin level has dropped to 70. The parents want to know if they need to continue medication and whether the jaundice can increase again.
Answer
Neonatal jaundice is categorized into pathological jaundice, physiological jaundice, and breastfeeding jaundice. Pathological jaundice may lead to bilirubin encephalopathy, causing irreversible brain damage, and thus requires blue light therapy and symptomatic medication. Physiological jaundice and breastfeeding jaundice usually do not require medication. Based on the description, the newborn has undergone blue light therapy. For patients with pathological jaundice, it is recommended to continue medication to avoid recurrence of the condition.