Question
The newborn was found to have jaundice three days after birth, and the family is very worried. What are the treatment methods for neonatal jaundice?
Answer
The appearance of jaundice in newborns is a common clinical phenomenon, which can be categorized into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. If the baby has physiological jaundice, it usually does not require treatment. It is recommended to let the baby drink more milk and expose them to sunlight, but care should be taken to cover the eyes to prevent direct sunlight from damaging the baby’s skin. Generally, physiological jaundice will disappear on its own within about a week. The main treatment for pathological jaundice is phototherapy, where the baby lies in a phototherapy box and is exposed to single-sided or double-sided light for 2 to 48 hours, but usually not exceeding 4 days. At the same time, the baby’s eyes, perineum, and anus should be covered, while other parts are exposed.