What causes neonatal jaundice? How long does it take for neonatal jaundice to subside?

Newborns are usually very fragile and need to be carefully cared for. Newborns have poor physical constitutions and are prone to illness. Jaundice is a common disease among newborns. So what causes neonatal jaundice? How long does it take for neonatal jaundice to subside?

Neonatal jaundice is divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. In physiological jaundice, the jaundice value is generally within the normal range and is harmless to the child. What are the causes of pathological jaundice? The first point is excessive bilirubin production. For example, there are too many red blood cells or hemolytic disease, the most common of which are ABO hemolytic disease and RH hemolytic disease or favism, etc. The second is bleeding. For example, cephalohematoma, intracranial hemorrhage, and internal bleeding. The third is infection. It can lead to the destruction of red blood cells. This is the first aspect, which is caused by excessive bilirubin production. The second aspect is the decreased ability of the liver to process bilirubin, such as neonatal hepatitis, infection, asphyxia, hypoxia, hypothyroidism and other liver function damage, bile duct atresia drug damage and other excretion disorders, which may affect the liver's processing of bilirubin. The third aspect is the increase in enterohepatic circulation, such as congenital intestinal atresia, intestinal obstruction, breastfeeding, hunger, etc. Due to the delayed excretion of stool, the bilirubin in the stool is reabsorbed into the body, so the bilirubin level increases significantly. The above three reasons are the main causes of neonatal pathological jaundice.

Neonatal jaundice can be divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. After the body turns yellow due to physiological jaundice, it will generally disappear on its own in two to three days, and the skin color will return to normal in five to six days. In more serious cases, jaundice will generally disappear on its own after about a week. If physiological jaundice occurs in a particularly severe premature baby, it may last for about four weeks. Pathological jaundice depends on the specific situation and how long it will take to eliminate the yellowing. In particularly serious cases, intravenous immunoglobulin is required for treatment, and albumin can be used in combination with treatment. If there is still no improvement, you can choose transfusion therapy, during which light therapy must be used.

1. Jaundice usually begins to appear 2-3 days after birth.

2. Jaundice gradually worsens, reaching a peak on the 4th to 6th day, and then gradually subsides.

3. For full-term newborns, jaundice generally disappears within 2 weeks after birth, and for premature babies, jaundice generally disappears within 3 weeks after birth.

4. The degree of jaundice is generally not severe, the skin color is light yellow, and jaundice is often limited to the face and upper body. The child's general condition is good during jaundice, with normal body temperature, normal appetite, normal color of urine and feces, and normal growth and development.

5. The serum bilirubin level is higher than the normal level by 2 mg/dl, but lower than 12 mg/dl. If the child's jaundice falls into this category, parents do not need to worry.

Generally speaking, the normal value of jaundice is different at different times after birth. Generally speaking, jaundice begins to appear 2-3 days after the child is born, reaches a peak at 4-5 days, and generally subsides gradually after 5-7 days, and does not exceed two weeks at most. In this range, the highest value generally does not exceed 12mg/dL. If it is a premature baby, it usually appears 3-5 days after birth, and can be delayed to 3-4 weeks at most. The daily bilirubin value does not increase by more than 5mg/dL, so the normal value of jaundice is different at different times and stages. For example, the highest peak does not exceed 12mg/dL. If 10mg/dL appears on the second or third day, it is also considered an abnormal state. Therefore, its value is different according to the time of each day, and the increase in the value every day compared to the day before will also determine whether the child's jaundice is normal. Most physiological jaundice does not require intervention. If pathological jaundice occurs, it is necessary to actively find the cause and treat it to alleviate the damage caused by jaundice to the child.