Question
Why does a 42-day-old baby still have jaundice?
Answer
This condition may be due to physiological jaundice. Mild physiological jaundice may only appear as a light yellow color, confined to the face and neck, or may spread to the trunk, even affecting the whites of the eyes, usually subsiding within 2 to 3 days and the skin color returning to normal by the 5th to 6th day. More severe jaundice may affect the entire body, including vomit and cerebrospinal fluid, lasting for more than a week, especially in premature infants which may continue up to 4 weeks. The stool remains yellow, and urine does not contain bilirubin. Blue light therapy is recommended and has some effectiveness.