Question
Why do newborns develop jaundice after birth?
Answer
The causes of neonatal jaundice are diverse, with physiological jaundice being a unique phenomenon in the neonatal period. Due to the low-oxygen environment in the womb, the fetus has an excess of red blood cells, most of which are immature and prone to destruction. This leads to an overproduction of bilirubin in the newborn, about twice the amount of an adult. Additionally, the liver function of newborns is not yet mature, and they are unable to effectively metabolize bilirubin, causing the appearance of jaundice in newborns within a certain period after birth.