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In the case of neonatal jaundice newborn babies have to be taken appropriate care of so that they may recover from this condition effectively. Jaundice in newborn babies is very common today and prompt treatment plays a crucial role here. Jaundice in newborns is usually caused by excessive bilirubin in the blood. This is a condition known as hyperbilirubinemia. Bilirubin is the yellow substance produced when the red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body breaks down. This bilirubin travels in the bloodstream of the baby to the liver thereby causing jaundice in newborn babies. Most jaundice in newborns is not caused by liver problems, and thus food restriction on the mother has no impact on the baby&#039;s jaundice. Bilirubin is a marker of this disease; therefore, the first step in the treatment of jaundice in newborns is checking its levels by going to a doctor. Nowadays, newborn babies are treated with blue light until the bilirubin levels are denatured. Phototherapy is the most common treatment for jaundice in newborns. It uses a special type of light to treat jaundice by making it easier for the baby’s liver to break down bilirubin and remove it from the blood. Phototherapy strives to expose the skin of the baby to as much light as possible. In this process, the baby is placed under a light in a cot or in an incubator while ensuring that their eyes are covered. If this does not help in improving the baby’s jaundice, intensified phototherapy may be recommended. This includes increasing the amount of light used and may also include using another source of light. During phototherapy, the temperature of the baby is monitored to ensure that they are not getting too hot and they will also be checked for any signs of dehydration. In case the baby is becoming dehydrated or if it is unable to drink enough, intravenous fluids may be needed. In earlier days, jaundice in newborns was treated by blood transfusion. Going to the doctor and getting bilirubin checked, timely and proper feeding of the baby along with blue light therapy is the recommended treatment of newborn jaundice these days. Dr. Pankaj Parekh from Maharashtra speaks about jaundice newborn treatment.

Dr. Pankaj Parekh

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