Question
A six-day-old infant has developed jaundice, starting on the third day after birth. Initially, the jaundice index in the head was measured at 12.9, and on the face at 15.3. After taking Yinzhu Huang (a traditional Chinese medicine) at home, the jaundice index in the head decreased to 11.9 and then to 11.3 in the second and third days, respectively. I would like to inquire whether this index is normal, and whether hospitalization or continued medication treatment is necessary?
Answer
Blue light therapy generally requires three to four days, and it is recommended to continue treatment and enhance breastfeeding to promote bowel movement and help alleviate jaundice. Jaundice can be either physiological or pathological. If it appears within 24 hours after birth, it is usually considered abnormal, but if it appears between 2 to 3 days after birth, it is generally a normal phenomenon. According to the estimate, the unit provided should be MG/DL, and this level of increase usually falls within the physiological range, does not require hospitalization, and there will be a significant improvement around 10 days.