What to do if newborn jaundice is severe
Neonatal jaundice is a common problem faced by many parents, especially when the degree of jaundice is severe, timely measures need to be taken. This article will combine the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days to provide parents with scientific and practical solutions.
1. Common causes of neonatal jaundice
Neonatal jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by abnormal bilirubin metabolism. The following are common reasons:
| Reason type | Specific instructions |
|---|---|
| physiological jaundice | The liver function of newborns is immature and bilirubin metabolism is slow. It usually appears 2-3 days after birth and disappears in 7-10 days. |
| pathological jaundice | Caused by diseases such as hemolysis, infection, and biliary atresia, jaundice appears early, is severe, and lasts long. |
| breast milk jaundice | Certain components in breast milk may inhibit bilirubin metabolism, usually for a longer period of time but to a lesser extent. |
2. How to judge whether jaundice is serious?
The following are key indicators for determining the severity of jaundice:
| indicator | mild jaundice | moderate jaundice | severe jaundice |
|---|---|---|---|
| bilirubin level | <12 mg/dL | 12-15 mg/dL | >15 mg/dL |
| Jaundice range | face only | trunk and limbs | Whole body, including palms and soles of feet |
| accompanying symptoms | None | slight drowsiness | Refusing milk, twitching, screaming |
3. Response measures when neonatal jaundice is severe
If severe jaundice is found in newborns, parents should take the following measures immediately:
1.Seek medical attention promptly: Severe jaundice may lead to bilirubin encephalopathy. You need to go to the hospital to check the bilirubin level as soon as possible. The doctor will recommend phototherapy, exchange transfusion and other treatments according to the situation.
2.Phototherapy (blue light therapy): This is the most common treatment, which uses blue light of a specific wavelength to break down bilirubin and promote its elimination from the body.
3.Increase feeding frequency: Eating more and more rows will help the metabolism of bilirubin. Breastfed babies should be fed every 2-3 hours.
4.Avoid wrong remedies: Such as feeding glucose water, basking in the sun, etc. These methods have limited effect and may delay treatment.
4. Recent popular questions and answers and expert advice
Based on the Internet hot spots in the past 10 days, the following are some of the questions parents are most concerned about and their expert answers:
| Popular questions | Expert advice |
|---|---|
| Should I stop breastfeeding if I have jaundice? | In most cases, there is no need to stop breastfeeding, but bilirubin levels need to be monitored closely. If breast milk jaundice is diagnosed, breast milk can be suspended for 3 days for observation. |
| Can sun exposure reduce jaundice? | Ultraviolet rays in the sun have a certain effect, but the effect is far less than medical phototherapy, and attention must be paid to sun protection and warmth. |
| What should I do if jaundice recurs? | It is necessary to check whether there are pathological factors such as hemolysis and infection, and seek medical examination in time. |
5. Precautions for preventing neonatal jaundice
1.Start breastfeeding as soon as possible: Let the baby suck breast milk as soon as possible after delivery to promote the discharge of meconium and reduce the enterohepatic circulation of bilirubin.
2.Regular monitoring: Follow the doctor’s advice to review bilirubin levels after discharge, especially in premature or low-birth-weight infants.
3.Observe mental state: If you find that your baby is lethargic, refuses milk, or cries shrilly, seek medical attention immediately.
Although neonatal jaundice is common, when severe, it can pose a threat to the health of the baby. Parents need to treat it scientifically and neither be overly anxious nor take it lightly. With timely monitoring and reasonable intervention, most jaundice can subside smoothly.
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