Question
A one-year-old male infant has recently been experiencing abnormal drowsiness. After being examined at the hospital, he was diagnosed with jaundice. Does neonatal jaundice cause drowsiness?
Answer
Drowsiness, also known as somnolence, may be a symptom of neonatal jaundice and requires further examination to rule out the risk of bilirubin encephalopathy. For infants with high bilirubin levels, the main treatment methods include phototherapy and oral medications, or the injection of anti-jaundice drugs. The goal of treatment is to timely reduce bilirubin levels to avoid serious complications such as bilirubin encephalopathy or kernicterus. In some cases, blood transfusion may be necessary. Therefore, neonatal jaundice should be treated promptly to prevent potential health risks.