Question

My sister gave birth to a cute baby a few days ago, and suddenly their face turned yellow. I want to know if the treatment for neonatal jaundice is effective? How should jaundice be treated?

Answer

Neonatal jaundice is quite common and can be completely cured with active treatment. Many cases are physiological, and for full-term infants, the yellowing usually resolves between 5-7 days. If it doesn’t fade after 2 weeks, it may be pathological jaundice, which requires treatment. Common treatment methods include blue light therapy and albumin infusion, which are generally effective as long as there are no severe underlying conditions. As for the issue of sequelae, they are generally not present if treated promptly. However, if bilirubin encephalopathy occurs, there is a high chance of residual neurological sequelae. It is still advisable to seek treatment for jaundice, and daily care should be taken with extra attention.