Question
What is the normal range of neonatal jaundice?
Answer
As described, the child developed jaundice two days after birth and after receiving blue light therapy on the 4th and 5th days, the jaundice index dropped to 13.1. However, on the 7th day, the index rose to around 15. This is due to the fact that the liver enzyme system in newborns has not fully developed, causing bilirubin produced in the body to be unable to be converted in time. Moreover, the sterile condition of the newborn’s intestines also affects bilirubin metabolism. These factors combined lead to an increase in bilirubin concentration in the newborn’s blood, resulting in jaundice. Since this type of jaundice is a temporary phenomenon, it is referred to as physiological jaundice. For children affected by neonatal diseases, mothers should immediately take their child for medical treatment and avoid self-medication to alleviate symptoms. For parents, closely monitoring their child’s symptom changes is very important as it helps in timely treatment of diseases.