Question
How common is neonatal physiological jaundice?
Answer
Due to the underdevelopment of the liver in newborns, approximately 50%-60% of full-term infants and 80% of premature infants will experience physiological jaundice. This condition usually appears within 2-3 days after birth, reaches its peak between 4-5 days, and gradually subsides within 5-7 days. In the case of premature infants, jaundice may take longer to resolve, possibly until 7-9 days. As long as the increase in serum bilirubin is less than 85μmol/L, and daily levels do not exceed 5mg/dL, and it resolves by the latest at 3-4 weeks, it falls within the normal range of physiological jaundice. If bilirubin levels are higher, it may be pathological and requires further confirmation and examination.