Question
My child has developed a mild jaundice on the face, arms, and legs on the third day after birth. There is no fever or coughing, and other symptoms have not appeared. The doctor examined and said it was physiological jaundice. How serious is this? Are there any symptoms?
Answer
Hello, based on your description, your child has developed mild jaundice on the face, arms, and legs on the third day after birth. After examination by the hospital, it was confirmed that this is neonatal physiological jaundice, which is a normal phenomenon and there is no need to worry. As you mentioned, neonatal physiological jaundice is a feature of bilirubin metabolism in newborns and is a physiological phenomenon in the normal growth process of newborns. It is the result of an elevated bilirubin level causing yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes. The characteristics of neonatal physiological jaundice are that it usually appears 2-3 days after birth, with the most severe cases occurring between 4-5 days after birth. Full-term infants usually fade within 7-10 days, while premature infants usually fade within 2-4 weeks.