How to treat jaundice in children and what medicine to take

The treatment of pediatric jaundice needs to be divided into different types according to the cause. Drug treatment is common in pathological jaundice and needs to be used under the guidance of a doctor, such as Yinzhihuang oral solution, enzyme inducers, etc. Mild physiological jaundice is mostly self-healing, combined with blue light irradiation when necessary. In terms of diet, mothers are advised to eat a light diet for breastfed children, and children who add complementary foods are advised to supplement with foods rich in vitamins, such as carrots, spinach, etc.

1. Types and causes of jaundice in children

Jaundice in children can be divided into two types: physiological and pathological.

- Physiological jaundice: Approximately 50%-60% of full-term newborns will experience it, mostly due to the incomplete metabolism of bilirubin. It usually appears within 2-3 days after birth, reaches its peak within 4-5 days, and disappears on its own after 10-14 days. No special drug treatment is required for this condition.

-Pathological jaundice: often caused by infection, hemolytic anemia, biliary obstruction, maternal-fetal blood type incompatibility and other pathological reasons. This type of jaundice is more serious and should be guarded against possible damage to the liver and brain tissue development.

2. Treatment measures and corresponding drugs

Treatment of jaundice in children requires different approaches depending on its nature:

-Blue light therapy: This is a common way to treat neonatal jaundice. It uses light of a specific wavelength to assist in the metabolism of bilirubin in the body. It is suitable for infants with physiological and some pathological jaundice.

-Drug treatment: If pathological jaundice requires drug intervention:

1. Yinzhihuang oral liquid: a Chinese patent medicine that can relieve jaundice. Appropriate use can assist in the treatment of jaundice caused by viral and hemolytic diseases.

2. Enzyme inducers (such as phenobarbital): promote the development of liver enzyme system and accelerate bilirubin metabolism.

3. Intravenous immunoglobulin: Suitable for hemolytic jaundice caused by maternal-fetal blood type incompatibility, and reduces immune response.

- Exchange transfusion therapy: When the bilirubin level is too high and exceeds the safe range, or when pathological jaundice is life-threatening, exchange transfusion therapy is required.

3. Diet and care advice

-Breastfeeding: It is recommended that babies with physiological jaundice insist on breastfeeding. Mothers need to eat a light diet, avoid greasy and spicy foods, and promote the baby's liver metabolism.

-Adding complementary foods: If the child has started complementary foods, it is recommended to supplement with foods rich in vitamin C and carotene, such as orange puree, carrot puree, spinach, etc., which will help restore liver function.

- Get more sunlight: Sunbathing is a simple way to promote the decomposition of bilirubin. Avoid the time when ultraviolet rays are the strongest, and 10-15 minutes every morning and evening is enough.

The treatment of pediatric jaundice needs to be selected according to individual conditions, especially pathological jaundice must be treated according to the doctor's advice. In the case of physiological jaundice, appropriate improvement of feeding methods and increased nursing methods can alleviate it, but for pathological jaundice, parents need to take their children to the hospital for treatment and receive professional treatment in time to avoid serious consequences such as irreversible nerve damage. Parents need to be alert to changes in their children's condition, such as the expansion of jaundice, poor mental response or accompanied by vomiting and other symptoms, and should seek medical help quickly.