Question
How to handle an elevated jaundice index in newborns?
Answer
Newborns, with their immature liver function, are susceptible to jaundice. Within the first week of birth, about sixty percent of full-term babies and eighty percent of premature babies will develop jaundice. The causes of jaundice include the production of excessive bilirubin in the baby’s body, which the liver is not yet mature enough to break down and excrete. Additionally, bilirubin that should have been excreted into the intestines is reabsorbed into the bloodstream by the baby’s intestines. These factors collectively contribute to the increased likelihood of newborns experiencing jaundice.