Question
After four days of birth, the baby’s skin turned yellow. After a medical examination, it was confirmed that the baby had jaundice. How should newborn jaundice be handled?
Answer
Newborn jaundice can be categorized into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. The former generally does not require treatment and usually resolves itself within a week; glucose can be given to the baby if concerned. The latter requires blue light therapy. Most newborns’ jaundice is physiological, usually appearing three to four days after birth and resolving around a week later without medication. Pathological jaundice should be treated with blue light therapy.