Question
Is neonatal jaundice an inevitable symptom for newborns? If a newborn develops jaundice, what are the doctor’s recommendations for treatment and observation, and is this treatment necessary?
Answer
Neonatal jaundice can be categorized into two types: physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice is primarily due to an excess of bilirubin production, insufficient uptake of bilirubin by liver cells, and an immature bilirubin excretion function, which usually resolves naturally. Pathological jaundice, on the other hand, involves overproduction of bilirubin, abnormal liver-biliary metabolism, bile duct obstruction, and hemolytic diseases. This may be caused by congenital liver disease, bile duct obstruction, or hemolytic diseases and requires timely treatment to maintain stable condition. Therefore, neonatal jaundice is not necessarily an inevitable occurrence, and the necessity of treatment depends on the type and cause of the jaundice.