Does neonatal jaundice mean the whole body turns yellow?

Whether a newborn baby will turn yellow all over the body when he or she develops jaundice generally depends on the condition. If the condition is more serious, it will generally cause the whole body to turn yellow. However, if the neonatal jaundice is high, it is best for parents to bring the baby to a blue light clinic in time, and then let the baby bask in the sun, drink plenty of water, and let the baby lie down more often. However, most neonatal jaundice is pathological and will slowly subside, so parents do not need to worry too much.

Does yellow skin in babies mean jaundice?

After the baby is born, the originally rosy white skin may turn yellow one day during the neonatal period. This is neonatal jaundice. It is caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the body. Under normal circumstances, as newborns establish breathing after birth, the blood oxygen concentration increases, and too many red blood cells are destroyed. In addition, the newborn's liver is immature, which easily leads to an increase in bilirubin concentration. This is physiological jaundice. It usually occurs in full-term newborns around 2 to 14 days after birth, and in premature newborns it can be extended to 21 days after birth. However, in some pathological conditions, jaundice may also occur, namely pathological jaundice.

Common pathological jaundice includes the following:

1. Hemolytic disease of the newborn, which is caused by the incompatibility of blood types between mother and child;

2. Infections caused by various pathogenic microorganisms, such as cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus, Staphylococcus aureus infection, etc.;

3. Congenital biliary atresia also leads to bilirubin excretion disorders (obstructive jaundice).

In addition, because breast milk contains β-glucuronidase, which can lead to increased enterohepatic circulation of bilirubin, breastfed newborns may develop jaundice for this reason, which is called breast milk jaundice.

A yellow face in a baby is generally a sign of illness, but physiological jaundice in the newborn is caused by special physiological characteristics rather than a pathological condition. The mechanism of its production is mainly due to increased red blood cell destruction (the fetus is in a low oxygen environment in the uterus, so red blood cells are overproduced and relatively surplus after birth) and the immature liver of the newborn and limited ability to process bilirubin. Most newborns will develop jaundice 2 to 3 days after birth, reaching a peak at 4 to 6 days. It will disappear in 10 to 14 days for full-term infants and in 2 to 3 weeks for premature infants. During this period, except for jaundice, the child is generally in good condition, has a good appetite, and has no other abnormal conditions. Physiological jaundice does not require treatment and has a good prognosis.

Neonatal jaundice should be considered pathological jaundice if it has any of the following characteristics:

1. Jaundice occurs within 24 hours after birth;

2. Severe jaundice;

3. Jaundice progresses rapidly, i.e. it gets much darker within a day;

4. Jaundice persists for a long time or reappears after jaundice subsides; pathological jaundice is a manifestation of disease and requires timely treatment.

How to care for yellow baby skin

Neonatal jaundice cannot be ignored. It must be detected early, and physiological and pathological jaundice must be correctly distinguished, and diagnosed and treated early. It is best to go to the hospital to check liver function and then decide what to do next. The most commonly used treatment for jaundice is blue light irradiation, and intravenous albumin and oral jaundice drugs can also be used.

1. Fetal jaundice is often caused by the pregnant mother being invaded by damp heat, which affects the fetus, resulting in fetal jaundice after the fetus is born. Therefore, during pregnancy, the pregnant mother should pay attention to a moderate diet, not eating raw or cold food, not being too hungry or too full, and avoid alcohol and spicy and hot foods to prevent damage to the spleen and stomach.

2. If a woman has given birth to a baby with fetal jaundice, she should take preventive measures during her next pregnancy and take Chinese medicine on time.

3. Closely observe the baby's scleral jaundice after birth. If jaundice is found, it should be treated as soon as possible, and observe the changes in the color of the jaundice to understand the progress of the jaundice.

4. Pay attention to observe the systemic symptoms of babies with fetal jaundice, such as lethargy, drowsiness, difficulty sucking, restlessness, strabismus, limb rigidity or convulsions, so as to detect and treat seriously ill children early.

5. Closely observe changes in heart rate, heart sounds, anemia level and liver size to prevent and treat heart failure at an early stage.

6. Pay attention to protecting the baby's skin, navel and buttocks clean to prevent damage and infection.