Question
What should be done if a newborn shows yellow jaundice on the third day after birth and the jaundice has not completely subsided when receiving the second hepatitis B vaccine?
Answer
Yellow jaundice appearing on the third day after birth may indicate liver function impairment. Liver dysfunction is often caused by damage to liver cells, which leads to leakage of enzymes into the blood and a decrease in the ability of liver cells to synthesize proteins and glycogen, as well as a buildup of substances like bilirubin and ammonia in the blood that need to be processed by the liver. It is suggested that you thoroughly check the newborn’s liver function and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs) levels to determine the cause. If a liver function impairment is diagnosed, prompt treatment should be initiated to prevent the condition from worsening. At the same time, parents should provide their child with sufficient care and attention to help them recover as soon as possible.