Question

My newborn is five days old and has developed jaundice on their face and body. They sleep a lot and are not very active when awake, but their feeding and bowel movements are normal. Do newborns with jaundice need to undergo blue light therapy?

Answer

Newborn jaundice is categorized into physiological and pathological types. Physiological jaundice typically appears 2 to 3 days after birth, peaks at 4 to 6 days, and gradually subsides between 7 to 10 days. Premature infants may have it for a longer duration, with only mild loss of appetite as a symptom. If the jaundice appears within 24 hours of birth or persists for more than 2 to 3 weeks, or even deepens or recurs, it is considered pathological jaundice. The treatment methods for newborn jaundice include:

  1. Blue light therapy: This is a common treatment method.
  2. Use of enzyme-inducing agents: Such as phenobarbital, at a dose of 5-6mg per day