Some babies may have jaundice at birth, and if jaundice occurs, measures need to be taken and treatment may be necessary to avoid harm to the body. However, some parents are unable to detect jaundice, which delays the health of their babies. So how to test for infant jaundice?
Baby jaundice can be reflected by physical manifestations. The baby's skin color turns yellow, and their eyes also appear yellowish. When urinating, it can be noticed that the urine is very yellow. Parents can determine if their baby has jaundice by observing whether there is yellowing in the white part of their eyes, or they can choose to go to the hospital for testing with professional instruments. This is quite accurate.
There are two types of jaundice in babies: physiological and pathological. If it is caused by the former, it will gradually fade away as the baby grows up, and it will fade away in about a month. If it is pathological, medication is needed to restore health.
Physiological jaundice mostly appears on the baby's face and calves. Go to the hospital to have blood drawn for bilirubin testing. The maximum jaundice level for a one month old baby should not exceed 12 milligrams per deciliter, while for premature infants, it should be below 15 milligrams per deciliter. Pathological jaundice is mostly caused by diseases that affect the metabolism of bilirubin, and can also lead to more severe physiological jaundice. It can be correctly distinguished from physiological jaundice, so it is recommended to go to the hospital for examination.
