Childhood jaundice is a common disease in newborns after birth. Many newborns may have jaundice after birth, but most newborns have physiological jaundice that can naturally subside after a period of time. However, many parents have limited knowledge about pediatric jaundice, which leads to a lack of understanding on how to deal with it. In order to help more people understand pediatric jaundice, we will now provide a science popularization on the relevant knowledge of pediatric jaundice:
1. What is pediatric jaundice?
Childhood jaundice refers to the symptom of yellow skin, eyes, and mucous membranes in infants after birth. This disease is caused by an increase in bilirubin levels in infants, which is a metabolic product produced after the aging of red blood cells. Under normal circumstances, bilirubin is converted into a harmless form in the liver and then excreted from the body through bile. However, for newborns, the liver's function is not fully developed and mature, and it cannot effectively process bilirubin, leading to the accumulation of bilirubin in the body and causing jaundice. Childhood jaundice is usually a self limiting disease that gradually subsides within a few days or weeks after birth. However, if jaundice is severe or persists for too long, further examination and treatment may be necessary.
What are the treatment methods for pediatric jaundice?
The treatment methods for pediatric jaundice mainly include the following: (1) Phototherapy: exposing the treated infant to special blue or white light to reduce the level of bilirubin in the blood through irradiation. Phototherapy can increase the metabolism and excretion of bilirubin in infants, which usually needs to be performed in hospitals. (2) Preventive feeding: One of the main causes of jaundice is bile stasis. Preventive feeding can maintain normal bowel movements in infants and help eliminate excess bilirubin from the body. (3) Frequent breastfeeding: Increasing the frequency and quantity of a baby's diet promotes digestion and excretion, and helps eliminate excess bilirubin from the body. (4) Infusion therapy: For infants with severe jaundice, intravenous infusion may be necessary to promote the excretion of bilirubin. (5) For disease treatment: If jaundice is caused by other diseases, the treatment goal will be to treat that disease. It should be noted that the treatment of infant jaundice should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor, and medication or treatment methods should not be used on one's own.
What are the prevention methods for jaundice in children?
The prevention methods for pediatric jaundice include: (1) Breastfeeding: The components in breast milk help eliminate bilirubin from the baby's body, which can reduce the occurrence of jaundice. It is recommended that babies start breastfeeding as early as possible after birth. (2) Frequent breastfeeding: Newborns need to eat regularly to promote the consumption and elimination of bilirubin. It is recommended to feed the baby every 2-3 hours and ensure that the baby receives enough milk during each feeding. (3) Increase the baby's food intake: If the baby has severe jaundice, you can increase the amount of each feeding appropriately to increase the frequency of urination and defecation. (4) Pay attention to your baby's urination and defecation: Your baby's urination and defecation can help eliminate bilirubin in the body, so it is important to pay attention to the frequency of urination and defecation every day. Under normal circumstances, newborns should have at least 6 episodes of diapers and 3 episodes of bowel movements every 24 hours. (5) Strengthening baby's exercise: Proper gentle massage and moderate exercise can promote baby's metabolism and excretion, helping to reduce jaundice. (6) Avoid exposure to sunlight: Ultraviolet rays in sunlight can convert bilirubin, which helps alleviate jaundice. When the sunlight is weak in the morning or evening, you can take your baby for a walk outdoors or let them rest under the sunshine. (7) Regular physical examination: Timely conduct regular physical examinations for babies to detect and treat jaundice problems early by measuring changes in bilirubin levels. If the baby's jaundice exceeds the normal range, the doctor may take further treatment measures.
In short, learning more about pediatric jaundice can help reduce the incidence of jaundice during pregnancy and after the birth of a newborn. At the same time, staying calm and actively cooperating with doctors for treatment and intervention can help better promote the resolution of neonatal jaundice.