What are the symptoms of jaundice in infants and young children?

The main symptoms of jaundice in infants and young children include obvious yellow discoloration of the skin and sclera (the white part of the eyes), which may be accompanied by drowsiness, loss of appetite, slow reaction, etc. Severe cases require medical attention as soon as possible.

Infant jaundice refers to jaundice caused by increased bilirubin levels in the blood, which is common in newborns. Mild physiological jaundice is a normal phenomenon, which appears about 2-3 days after birth and resolves on its own in about a week. At this time, the skin or whites of the eyes are slightly yellow, and the baby is usually in good condition, with no obvious infection or other pathological characteristics. Pathological jaundice may be caused by infection, metabolic abnormalities, blood diseases, etc., and manifests as jaundice within 24 hours of birth, rapid progression of jaundice, deepening of color, abnormal mental state, etc. If jaundice persists for more than 2 weeks, accompanied by lighter stool color, dark yellow urine, or the baby continues to cry and refuses milk, it may be a sign of biliary atresia, breast milk jaundice or other diseases, which require immediate diagnosis and treatment.

Infant jaundice refers to jaundice caused by increased bilirubin levels in the blood, which is common in newborns. Mild physiological jaundice is a normal phenomenon, which appears about 2-3 days after birth and resolves on its own in about a week. At this time, the skin or whites of the eyes are slightly yellow, and the baby is usually in good condition, with no obvious infection or other pathological characteristics. Pathological jaundice may be caused by infection, metabolic abnormalities, blood diseases, etc., and manifests as jaundice within 24 hours of birth, rapid progression of jaundice, deepening of color, abnormal mental state, etc. If jaundice persists for more than 2 weeks, accompanied by lighter stool color, dark yellow urine, or the baby continues to cry and refuses milk, it may be a sign of biliary atresia, breast milk jaundice or other diseases, which require immediate diagnosis and treatment.

For jaundice, parents should pay attention to the baby's mental state and the scope of jaundice, especially the face, trunk and limbs. If the jaundice is limited to the face and the baby has no mental abnormalities, it is mostly physiological jaundice and no special treatment is required. Infants can be exposed to sunlight (not natural light under strong sunlight) to help metabolize bilirubin on a daily basis. Pathological jaundice requires symptomatic treatment according to the cause. Common treatments include light therapy, exchange transfusion therapy and drug intervention for the disease. If jaundice is severe or combined with hyperbilirubinemia, the patient should be sent to the doctor immediately to avoid serious consequences such as bilirubin encephalopathy. During diagnosis and treatment, parents can also adjust feeding methods, such as ensuring adequate breastfeeding while monitoring the baby's weight and growth for comprehensive care and recovery.