How should parents determine the type of neonatal jaundice?

Clinically, there are two types of neonatal jaundice, namely physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Because the treatment methods of the two types of jaundice are different, parents need to accurately judge the type of jaundice in their newborns.

1. When does jaundice appear?

Physiological jaundice: generally appears about 3 days after birth, and in some cases, the skin may turn slightly yellow from the second day after birth, or may be delayed to the fifth day after birth. It gradually worsens and is usually most obvious on the second or third day after the onset of jaundice.

Pathological jaundice: Jaundice appears early, often within 24 hours after birth. If a newborn develops jaundice a few hours after birth, usually the first parts to appear are the sclera and face, then this is a dangerous signal.

2. The degree of jaundice

Physiological jaundice: mainly determined by measuring serum bilirubin. The highest value of physiological jaundice should not exceed 12mg% for full-term newborns and 15mg% for premature infants. The order of jaundice is that it first appears from the sclera, face, neck and then spreads to the trunk and limbs.

Pathological jaundice: Jaundice progresses rapidly, gradually spreading from the face to the trunk and limbs. If the palms and soles of the newborn are found to be yellow, it usually indicates that the blood bilirubin level exceeds 12mg%.

There is a simple way to determine jaundice:

Mild: Only facial yellowing;

Moderate: Yellowing of the skin on the trunk;

Severe: Yellowing of the limbs and palms and soles of feet.

3. Time for jaundice to subside

Physiological jaundice: Newborn jaundice usually disappears 7-10 days after birth, and no later than 2 weeks after birth. Jaundice in premature infants may be delayed until 3-4 weeks after birth.

Pathological jaundice: often more than 2 weeks, premature infants more than 3 weeks. If the newborn is still jaundiced 2 weeks after birth, regardless of the serum bilirubin level, it indicates an abnormal condition. Parents are advised to take the baby to the hospital for necessary examinations to find out the cause of the jaundice.

4. Other details

Physiological jaundice: Except for jaundice, the newborn appears normal in all other aspects, such as feeding, sleeping, crying, urination, defecation, body temperature, etc.

Pathological jaundice: The mental state of the newborn is obviously not very good, and sometimes the baby stares in one direction, screams, or convulses.