Question

How should one deal with a high jaundice index in newborns?

Answer

Newborn jaundice is categorized into two types: physiological and pathological. Physiological jaundice typically appears 2-3 days after birth, reaches its peak between 4-6 days, and naturally subsides within 7-10 days. Premature infants may have a longer duration, but without other clinical symptoms. If jaundice appears within 24 hours after birth or persists for over 2-3 weeks, or even shows deepening or recurrence, or begins to appear within one week to several weeks after birth, it is considered pathological jaundice. The treatment methods for newborn jaundice include:

  1. Blue light therapy: Through the use of specific wavelength light, it helps convert bilirubin in the newborn’s body and excrete it out.
  2. Enzyme inducers: Such as phenobarbital, with a common dosage of 5-6 milligrams per kilogram per day