What are the dangers and seriousness of high jaundice in infants and young children?

Infants and young children with significant jaundice need to be seen by a doctor as soon as possible to prevent potential complications. Jaundice is essentially a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the body, and many newborns experience this condition because their livers are not yet fully mature.

Generally speaking, jaundice can be divided into physiological and pathological types. Physiological jaundice often begins 2-3 days after birth and gradually subsides within about 2 weeks, which is usually a normal phenomenon. Pathological jaundice may increase rapidly, accompanied by other symptoms such as drowsiness, difficulty feeding, or abnormal crying, indicating the need to pay attention to underlying diseases, such as hemolysis, infection, or abnormal liver function.

If high bilirubin levels are not treated in time, it may lead to "kernicterus", that is, bilirubin enters the brain and causes damage to the nervous system. In severe cases, it may affect intellectual development and hearing. Parents should seek medical evaluation in time if they find that their baby's jaundice lasts too long (such as more than 2 weeks) or the color of jaundice becomes significantly darker.

When caring for babies with jaundice, parents can observe the degree of yellowing of the skin, check the bilirubin index in time, and feed the baby according to the doctor's advice to enhance excretion. If it is a mild case, increase the feeding frequency appropriately and pay attention to the changes in the color of the baby's urine and feces, which will help bilirubin excretion. Pathological jaundice requires professional examination and treatment.