Question
My baby is over 20 days old, and the jaundice hasn’t subsided yet. The doctor suggested hospitalization, but I don’t want my baby to be hospitalized before they’re a month old! Can this medication help reduce my baby’s jaundice?
Answer
Physiological jaundice usually does not require treatment. Early feeding can accelerate the excretion of meconium and establish a normal intestinal flora, thereby reducing the absorption of bilirubin from the intestines and partially reducing jaundice. When a neonate has jaundice, it is advisable to avoid using sulfonamides, aspirin, and drugs containing sodium benzoate, as these can contribute to the occurrence of hemolytic jaundice. When red blood cells lack glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, many oxidative drugs (such as vitamin K3 and K4, sulfonamides, and furfural) should be avoided. Patients with pathological jaundice should be referred to a hospital for treatment. In addition to treating the underlying disease, other options such as phototherapy, traditional Chinese medicine, oral luminal and colistin, or blood exchange therapy can be considered to lower serum bilirubin levels. The treatment method is decided by the doctor.