Question
Does neonatal jaundice affect intelligence?
Answer
Most neonates with jaundice typically do not experience any impact on their intelligence, as long as the baby is in good spirits, feeding well, and does not exhibit symptoms of convulsions or twitching. Furthermore, if timely symptomatic treatment is administered when jaundice recurs, it generally will not progress to bilirubin encephalopathy, thereby avoiding any negative impact on the baby’s intelligence. However, if the bilirubin level is excessively high, beyond the normal range, and accompanied by symptoms such as listlessness, decreased appetite, weak suckling, and if timely treatments like phototherapy are not administered, it may lead to bilirubin encephalopathy, which can result in cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, hearing loss, or incomplete tooth development.