Question

My baby has been born for five days and recently I’ve noticed that the baby’s face is a bit yellowish. The family thinks it might be jaundice. Could you please tell me what the normal range of neonatal jaundice is?

Answer

Neonatal jaundice can be divided into two main categories: physiological and pathological. Physiological jaundice is a temporary jaundice caused by the characteristics of bilirubin metabolism, usually appearing 2-3 days after birth, reaching its peak between 4-6 days, and subsiding within 7-10 days. Premature infants may have a longer duration. Physiological jaundice typically presents with only slight loss of appetite and no other clinical symptoms, with bilirubin levels generally not exceeding 12.5 mg/dL. What is the bilirubin level of your child?