Question
How is neonatal jaundice treated? My baby developed jaundice three days after birth. Is this kind of jaundice serious? The skin just started to turn yellow, and no other symptoms have been observed. The baby is currently in the hospital’s incubator. Previous treatment and effects: I am O-negative blood type, my husband is A-positive blood type, and there is no family history of hereditary diseases. Assistance sought: I would like to know when the baby can be discharged.
Answer
Neonatal jaundice is generally referred to as physiological jaundice, which occurs in most full-term newborns within 2 to 3 days after birth, with the face turning yellow more obvious on the 4th to 5th day. It then spreads to the trunk and limbs, gradually subsiding after the 5th to 6th day, and can completely disappear within 7 to 10 days. Premature infants’ jaundice resolves later, taking about 10 to 15 days to disappear, with a few cases taking up to over 3 weeks. This type of jaundice is not severe and has no impact on the child’s body, usually requiring no special treatment.