What are the symptoms of infant jaundice?

Mar 12, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng

Introduction

The symptoms of infant jaundice include yellowing of the skin, yellowing of the sclera, changes in urine color, alterations in mental status, difficulty feeding, and others. It is recommended to initiate breastfeeding as early as possible to promote lactation and ensure sufficient milk intake. Adequate breastfeeding can facilitate infant bowel movements, aid in the excretion of bilirubin, reduce enterohepatic circulation, and thereby lower the risk of developing jaundice.

Generally, symptoms of infant jaundice include yellowing of the skin, yellowing of the sclera, changes in urine color, changes in mental status, and feeding difficulties. If discomfort occurs, it is recommended to seek medical treatment promptly. Detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Yellowing of the Skin

Due to abnormal bilirubin metabolism, bilirubin levels in the blood increase. The bilirubin circulates throughout the body via the bloodstream, causing the skin to turn yellow.

2. Yellowing of the Sclera

The sclera contains abundant elastin, which has a strong affinity for bilirubin. Bilirubin tends to deposit here, initially causing yellowing around the edges; as jaundice worsens, the entire sclera turns yellow.

3. Changes in Urine Color

When an infant has jaundice, abnormal bilirubin metabolism leads to increased bilirubin in the blood. This excess bilirubin is excreted through the kidneys, increasing bilirubin levels in the urine and consequently darkening the urine color.

4. Changes in Mental Status

In severe jaundice, excessively high bilirubin levels can cross the blood-brain barrier, affecting normal neurological function and leading to abnormal mental states in infants, such as drowsiness, lethargy, or irritability.

5. Feeding Difficulties

Jaundice causes physical discomfort in infants, affecting digestive system function or triggering general discomfort, resulting in decreased appetite and weak sucking, thereby causing feeding difficulties.

It is recommended to initiate breastfeeding as early as possible to promote milk secretion and ensure adequate milk intake. Sufficient breastfeeding can promote infant bowel movements, aid in bilirubin excretion, reduce enterohepatic circulation, and thus lower the risk of jaundice. Additionally, allowing the infant moderate exposure to sunlight may help bilirubin breakdown and promote the resolution of jaundice.

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What are the consequences of ABO hemolytic disease?

The main consequences of ABO hemolytic disease include neonatal jaundice, anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, bilirubin encephalopathy, and heart failure. This condition is primarily caused by ABO blood type incompatibility between mother and infant. If a newborn exhibits symptoms such as skin yellowing and lethargy, immediate medical attention is required. Neonatal jaundice: the infant develops yellowing of the skin and sclera shortly after birth.

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Why does neonatal jaundice occur when the mother has type O blood?

Under normal circumstances, neonatal jaundice in mothers with blood type O may be caused by factors such as the newborn's characteristics of bilirubin metabolism, improper breastfeeding, ABO hemolytic disease, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, or congenital biliary atresia. If related symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical evaluation and treatment at a reputable hospital. The specific analysis is as follows:

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How can infant jaundice be reduced quickly?

Infant jaundice may be caused by characteristics of neonatal bilirubin metabolism, insufficient feeding with reduced bowel movements, breast milk jaundice, neonatal hemolytic disease, neonatal infections, and other factors. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention, identify the underlying cause, and then improve the condition under a doctor's guidance through feeding adjustments, phototherapy, and other methods. With a doctor's approval, infants can also receive appropriate mild sun exposure by exposing their skin moderately in daily life.

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How can neonatal jaundice resolve quickly?

In general, neonatal jaundice may be caused by excessive bilirubin production, weak liver metabolism of bilirubin, breast milk jaundice, hemolytic jaundice, infectious jaundice, and other reasons. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention, identify the underlying cause, and then improve the condition under a doctor's guidance through general treatment, medication, phototherapy (blue light irradiation), and other methods.