Question
My baby is already 20 days old and still has jaundice. Initially, the jaundice index was over 300 in the hospital, and now it has dropped to over 100, but there has been no further decrease. How long does it take for physiological jaundice to completely disappear?
Answer
Currently, jaundice is caused by an increase in bilirubin levels and is categorized into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. For full-term infants, physiological jaundice generally disappears within 14 days, with the highest jaundice index not exceeding 12.9mg/dl; for premature infants, it disappears within 28 days, with the highest index not exceeding 15mg/dl. Based on your description, if your baby is full-term, it may be pathological jaundice, and it is recommended to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Thank you.