Question
How should I handle a 1-month and 7-day-old baby who has developed jaundice?
Answer
Jaundice can have various causes, including physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice typically appears within 2 to 3 days after birth and gradually subsides after 7 to 10 days. Pathological jaundice may appear as early as 24 hours after birth or persist beyond 14 days. Pathological jaundice could be related to breastfeeding (breastfeeding can be temporarily stopped for 72 hours; if the jaundice index increases by 30%, it can be diagnosed) or due to infections and other factors. Therefore, if the baby still has jaundice after one month, it should be considered as a possible case of pathological jaundice.