Question
Will a newborn’s jaundice level of 17 turn into kernicterus?
Answer
Jaundice has certain limitations. Generally, in full-term infants, the bilirubin measurement in the blood during the peak of jaundice should not exceed 12 mg/dL, and for premature infants, it should not exceed 15 mg/dL. Your baby’s current level of 17 is relatively high, and medication may be needed to treat the jaundice, but this value usually does not lead to kernicterus. If physiological jaundice does not require special treatment, pathological jaundice requires further examination to determine the specific cause of the jaundice and to receive targeted treatment. It is important to actively control bilirubin levels and prevent complications.