Question
How to treat neonatal jaundice? Do I need to go to the hospital for treatment? How long does it take to see results?
Answer
Neonatal jaundice refers to the yellowish discoloration of the skin, sclera, and mucous membranes after birth, also known as neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Bilirubin encephalopathy is a condition where free bilirubin crosses the blood-brain barrier into the central nervous system, leading to toxic damage to nerve cells. In children with varying degrees of hyperbilirubinemia, even at lower serum bilirubin levels, transient bilirubin neurotoxicity may occur. The main goal in treating neonatal jaundice is to lower bilirubin levels to prevent brain damage. Generally, if the neonatal jaundice is mild and there are no other severe symptoms, treatment can be done at home. Common treatment methods include increasing breastfeeding frequency, promoting defecation, maintaining adequate dietary and fluid intake, and avoiding excessive sunlight exposure. However, if the neonatal jaundice is severe or accompanied by other severe symptoms such as vomiting, weakness, and fever, it is necessary to go to the hospital for treatment. Treatment methods in the hospital may include intravenous fluid therapy, phototherapy, or other appropriate medication treatments. The duration of treatment varies from person to person and usually takes a few days to several weeks to see results. It is important that regardless of the treatment method chosen, it should be carried out under a doctor’s guidance, follow the doctor’s advice, and have regular follow-up visits. Timely treatment and close monitoring are key to ensuring the recovery of neonatal jaundice.