What is the cause of high jaundice in newborns?

Neonatal jaundice is usually caused by abnormally high bilirubin levels in the body, which may be related to physiological factors, maternal-fetal blood type incompatibility, infection, liver dysfunction or other pathological reasons. Depending on the cause, treatment methods include phototherapy, drug intervention or cause-specific treatment.

1 Physiological reasons

Newborns generally experience physiological jaundice, which usually subsides within 2-3 days after birth and within 1 week. This is because the newborn's liver is not yet fully mature and cannot efficiently process bilirubin in the blood. When the baby's liver function gradually improves, this jaundice will naturally subside. If the jaundice is mild, you can avoid direct sunlight by getting some sun exposure and control the time to help metabolize bilirubin, but make sure to observe its changes.

2. Incompatibility of blood types between mother and baby

Neonatal jaundice can be exacerbated by blood type incompatibility between mother and baby, such as ABO or Rh incompatibility. This is a hemolytic reaction in which the baby's red blood cells are destroyed by maternal antibodies, producing large amounts of bilirubin. In this case, medical attention should be sought as soon as possible. Common treatments include phototherapy, intravenous immunoglobulin infusion, or exchange transfusion in severe hemolysis.

3Infections and other diseases

Some infections such as intrauterine infection, sepsis, and congenital hepatobiliary diseases such as biliary atresia may cause pathological jaundice. These conditions are usually accompanied by other symptoms such as poor spirit, less milk intake, and abnormal body temperature, and need to be confirmed by blood tests, transcutaneous jaundice measurement, or other diagnostic methods. Treatment depends on the specific disease, such as anti-infective treatment or surgical treatment of congenital malformations.

4Genetic and enzyme deficiency diseases

Certain genetic diseases may also lead to bilirubin metabolism disorders, such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase G6PD deficiency or other enzyme defects. In this case, it is necessary to avoid possible triggers of hemolysis and perform long-term management under the advice of a doctor.

5. Drugs and special interventions

If bilirubin levels remain high, phototherapy is often used to promote the breakdown of bilirubin in the body; for more severe cases, exchange transfusion therapy can be used. Doctors may prescribe drugs such as phenobarbital to promote liver enzyme activity, but medications must be taken strictly according to doctor's instructions.

Neonatal jaundice is a common phenomenon, but we need to be alert to high bilirubin levels caused by pathological factors. It is recommended to check regularly and observe the process of jaundice disappearing. If abnormalities are found, such as the expansion of jaundice and the baby's mental state is poor, medical treatment should be sought as soon as possible to avoid serious complications. Through early intervention, most neonatal jaundice can be recovered safely, and parents do not need to worry too much.