Question
How should parents handle persistent jaundice on a newborn’s face?
Answer
Persistent jaundice on a newborn’s face can be caused by various factors, including physiological and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice usually resolves on its own, but pathological jaundice requires medical intervention. Pathological jaundice can be either infectious or non-infectious and may be caused by bacterial or other pathogenic infections, or associated with hemolytic jaundice, biliary obstruction, and genetic disorders. In addition to physiological and pathological jaundice, there is also a condition known as breastfeeding jaundice, where the jaundice persists for a longer period but the baby generally remains in good condition. The treatment for newborn jaundice may include external treatments, acupuncture therapy, dietary therapy, and preventive measures. External treatments include using melon seeds to stimulate the nose or using artemisia to rub the chest and limbs; acupuncture therapy involves needle insertion at specific acupoints; dietary therapy includes chicken bone grass stewed with red dates, Xuanhualiang stewed with pork liver, and Danshen Lingzhi stewed with wild ducks. Preventive measures include regulating diet, maintaining a relaxed mood, and eating lightly. Once jaundice is detected, immediate isolation treatment should be implemented, and the baby’s feeding utensils and other items should be disinfected. Excrements should be buried deep or sterilized. After the jaundice subsides during treatment, medication should not be discontinued immediately but should be based on