Question
My newborn’s jaundice has lasted for 17 days and hasn’t gone away yet. Will it affect their health?
Answer
Physiological jaundice usually appears 2 to 3 days after birth, peaks at 4 to 6 days, and subsides between 7 to 10 days. Premature infants may have jaundice that lasts longer, but typically without other clinical symptoms, except for a slight decrease in appetite. If jaundice appears within 24 hours after birth, persists for more than 2 to 3 weeks, recurs after subsiding, or appears from one week to several weeks after birth, these are signs of pathological jaundice. Treatments for newborn jaundice include phototherapy, the use of enzyme-inducing agents (such as phenobarbital), and traditional Chinese medicine. Feeding sugar water can help speed up the disappearance of jaundice, but it is not necessary for treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment adjusts the body to achieve the effect of promoting bile flow and reducing jaundice.