Causes of neonatal jaundice

The main causes of neonatal jaundice include physiological factors, pathological diseases, and incompatibility of maternal and infant blood types, which can be intervened through observation, testing, and professional treatment when necessary. Timely medical treatment can effectively help the baby recover healthily.

1. Genetic factors

Certain genetic diseases may cause excessive jaundice in newborns. For example, hemolytic disease of the newborn is a common problem caused by incompatibility of the blood types of the mother and the baby. When the mother and baby have different blood types and the mother has antibodies in her body, these antibodies will attack the baby's red blood cells, causing hemolysis, resulting in increased bilirubin levels and jaundice. Incompatibility of the mother and baby's blood types can usually be discovered during prenatal examinations. If confirmed, exchange transfusion therapy or phototherapy will be needed after the baby is born to relieve symptoms.

2. Environmental factors

Some external factors that newborns may be exposed to in their lives can also lead to increased jaundice levels. For example, coldness, infection, or external trauma in the postnatal environment may increase the metabolic burden on red blood cells and lead to bilirubin accumulation. When the baby suffers from sepsis, infectious diseases, or receives improper care, the jaundice symptoms will be aggravated. To prevent such situations, it is necessary to provide the baby with a warm and disinfected living environment and pay close attention to infection control.

3. Physiological factors

The liver function of newborns is not fully developed, and the inability to quickly clear high levels of bilirubin is the physiological cause of jaundice. Especially in the second to fourth days after birth, physiological jaundice is a problem that most newborns will face, which is usually a normal physiological change. However, if the jaundice level is too high or lasts too long, timely observation and medical treatment are required.

4. Pathological factors

Pathological jaundice is usually caused by diseases, such as biliary atresia, neonatal sepsis, hepatitis, etc. These problems will hinder the normal metabolism and excretion of bilirubin, causing abnormally high bilirubin levels. Phototherapy is the most common way to treat pathological jaundice. If phototherapy is ineffective, blood transfusion therapy may be required. It is particularly important to accurately diagnose the cause.

5. Traumatic effects

Injuries during childbirth may also cause increased jaundice, such as scalp hematoma or other trauma that causes red blood cells to rupture, causing a rapid increase in bilirubin. In this case, it is necessary to communicate with a professional physician to decide whether to take medical intervention based on the specific circumstances of the injury.

When newborns are found to have high jaundice, parents need to take their babies to the doctor immediately to determine whether the cause of jaundice is physiological or pathological. Most mild physiological jaundice does not require special treatment, while pathological jaundice requires timely intervention to avoid long-term effects. Through professional examinations and targeted treatments, the problem of high neonatal jaundice can be effectively solved.