What are the medications for neonatal jaundice?

Many newborn babies will show symptoms of jaundice. Here, I hope that new parents will not be anxious and treat it calmly. Jaundice is a very common symptom in babies, and up to eight out of ten babies may experience symptoms of jaundice. What are the medications for neonatal jaundice? There are two ways to treat neonatal jaundice, one is Western medicine and the other is Chinese medicine. Here, I would like to introduce to you the use of Western medicine.

1. Glucose and alkaline solutions Glucose can provide calories to children, nourish important organs such as the heart, liver, and brain, and reduce metabolic acidosis. In acidosis, the blood-brain barrier opens, which increases the amount of bilirubin entering the brain tissue. Alkaline solutions should be administered in time to correct acidosis and prevent bilirubin encephalopathy. Sodium bicarbonate dose (meq) = base excess × body weight (kg) × 0.3.

2. Plasma or albumin supplies albumin linked to bilirubin, which can reduce free unconjugated bilirubin and prevent bilirubin encephalopathy. Plasma 25ml/time intravenous injection (100ml plasma contains 3g albumin, 1g albumin can bind 8.5mg unconjugated bilirubin) or albumin 1g/kg plus 25% glucose 10-20ml intravenous drip, 1-2 times a day.

3. Enzyme inducers can induce the activity of glucuronyl transferase in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes and reduce serum unconjugated bilirubin. Phenobarbital can also increase y protein and promote the uptake of bilirubin by liver cells. Phenobarbital 5-8 mg/kg per day, nikethamide 100 mg/kg per day, both taken orally in 3 divided doses. Because it takes 2-3 days for the medication to show efficacy, it is important to start taking the medication as soon as possible. Using the two drugs together can improve the efficacy.

4. Adrenal cortical hormones can prevent the reaction between antigen and antibody, reduce hemolysis, and promote the binding ability of hepatocyte glucuronyl transferase to bilirubin. Take 1-2 mg/kg of prednisone orally three times a day, or 6-8 mg/kg of hydrocortisone per day or 1-2 mg of dexamethasone per day plus 10% glucose 100-150 ml intravenous drip. Patients suspected of infection should use it with caution under the control of effective anti-infective drugs.

Here I would like to remind all parents to stick to one method of treatment and medication, either Western medicine or Chinese medicine. Don't mix them together, as this may cause great damage to the baby's immunity. It may not be possible for Chinese and Western medicine to be combined in the baby's body, so it is better to be careful. If your baby's jaundice is more serious than usual, it is recommended not to use medication at will, but to seek treatment in the hospital.