Premature infant jaundice index
Release time : 06/07/2025 09:30:01
The Huang Heng Index of Premature Infants is a barometer of babies. It can accurately determine the baby's physical health. Huang Heng in premature infants is a normal physiological phenomenon, and mothers do not need to worry too much.
In general, the normal value of jaundice in premature infants is 15 mg/100 ml of blood, which means that the bilirubin level in 100 ml of blood is less than 15 mg. If the premature infant subsides or the jaundice recedes within 4 weeks, it means that the premature infant's jaundice is unhealthy and may have pathological jaundice. Mothers should pay attention to it.
The premature infant jaundice index is a disease value that causes skin, mucous membrane and other tissues to turn yellow due to the increase in bilirubin in the serum of premature infants.
The bilirubin levels in premature infants are different from those in full-term infants. The normal level of bilirubin in premature infants is 15 mg/dL, which means that the bilirubin level in 100 milliliters of blood should be below 15 mg.
A full-term newborn's jaundice is considered normal if the level of bilirubin in a 100 ml blood sample is less than 12.9 mg/dL, or 100 mg per 100 ml of blood.
If the body's trunk is found to be yellowish, with an aspartate aminotransferase level around 7-8, and if the skin below the knees also exhibits jaundice, the index will exceed 12-15. At this time, mothers should pay close attention.
In normal full-term infants, jaundice appears within 2 to 4 days and peaks around the 4th to 5th day, generally subsiding within one week to two weeks. In premature infants, jaundice lasts longer and the bilirubin index is slightly elevated.
The color of jaundice should not be too dark (the intensity of jaundice can be consulted with a physician or determined by blood tests). The average bilirubin value is about eleven to twelve milligrams. If the jaundice index in premature infants is too high, it should be considered as pathological jaundice.
The normal value of the jaundice index for preterm infants is unknown. Jaundice in newborns is a normal physiological phenomenon, with 60% of full-term infants and 80% of premature infants showing signs of skin yellowing within the first week after birth.
Infants with jaundice can be divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. The normal value of physiological jaundice is considered the normal value for newborn jaundice in medicine. So, what is the normal value for jaundice in premature infants? The normal range for jaundice in premature infants differs from that in full-term babies. Typically, the normal value for premature infants is a bilirubin level of less than 15 mg/dL (or 100 mL blood), which means the bilirubin concentration in 100 mL of blood is below 15 mg.
The normal value for jaundice in full-term neonates is 12.9 mg/100 ml, which means that the bilirubin level in 100ml of blood should be below 12.9mg.
When the baby's jaundice value exceeds 12.9mg/dl or the newborn jaundice index rises too fast (more than 5mh/dl per day), or if the jaundice persists for more than 14 days in full-term infants, or for less than 4 weeks in premature infants, it indicates that the jaundice of the premature baby is not healthy and may have pathological jaundice. Mothers should pay attention to this.
What should be done if the bilirubin index of preterm newborns is high? The bilirubin index in preterm newborns refers to a condition where the serum bilirubin levels rise in premature infants, resulting in skin and mucous membranes becoming yellow. This is a common disease among newborns and preterm infants. However, only a minority of people truly understand and familiarize themselves with jaundice.
If the bilirubin level of premature infants is high, what should be done? 1. Light therapy: This is a simple and effective method to reduce unconjugated bilirubin in the serum. Newborns are placed in a phototherapy box with black eye covers to protect the retina from damage, the perineum and anus covered with a diaper, and the rest exposed. The baby's body is exposed to light for 24-48 hours (generally no more than 4 days) using either monochromatic or dual-band light. Once the bilirubin levels drop below 7 mg/dL, treatment can be stopped.
2. Hemopheresis: Hemopheresis can effectively reduce bilirubin, eliminate sensitized red blood cells and alleviate anemia. However, hemopheresis requires certain conditions and may also produce some adverse reactions, thus strict indications should be strictly controlled.
Medication therapy: Supplemental albumin to correct metabolic acidosis, hepatotoxic agents (such as phenytoin), and intravenous immunoglobulin.
The cause of elevated bilirubin levels in premature infants, which are a phenomenon observed on the skin due to the metabolic breakdown of bilirubin in the blood, is primarily attributed to the immature liver function and inadequate excretion of bilirubin by the newborn. This condition, known as neonatal jaundice, can occur in up to 50-60% of full-term infants and in 80% of preterm infants. However, this condition typically manifests in full-term infants within 2-3 days, peaks between 4-5 days, and gradually subsides over 5-7 days before completely disappearing within 2 weeks.
In preterm infants, the onset may be delayed, and the final resolution period could be 3-4 weeks.
Some premature infants may have a high Huang Heng index. So what are the reasons for the high jaundice index in premature infants? 1. Physiological jaundice: The physiological jaundice of full-term infants begins on the 2nd to 3rd day. At this time, the skin is light yellow, the sclera (white eyes) is mainly blue and slightly yellow, and the urine is slightly yellow but does not stain the diaper. It is the yellowed on the 4th to 5th day. Full-term infants disappear on the 10th to 14th day. Check that liver function is normal and serum unconjugated bilirubin is increased.
Physiological jaundice in premature infants will appear early, have a high index, and last for a long time, and may be delayed to 3 to 4 weeks.
2. Breast Milk-Induced Cholestasis: Infants born prematurely are susceptible to cholestatic jaundice due to breastfeeding. This condition is known as breast milk-induced cholestasis. The presence of progesterone in breast milk inhibits the activity of the glucose glucuronyl transferase in newborn liver, preventing timely metabolism and excretion of bilirubin in the blood, leading to an increase in the concentration of bilirubin. This results in a yellowing of the skin and sclera in premature infants, which is one of the reasons for elevated jaundice index in premature infants.
3. Hemolytic Jaundice: Hemolytic jaundice is the most common cause, with ABO incompatibility being the primary reason. It is caused by the blood type of the mother and the fetus, with the most common combination being mother's blood type O and fetus's blood type A or B, leading to a more severe form of jaundice that often results in elevated bilirubin levels in premature infants.
How to Prevent Premature Infant Cyanosis? Cyanosis is often considered a barometer of infant health, especially for premature infants who require more care from their parents. Although cyanosis in premature infants is considered normal, if the cyanosis index is too high, it may indicate pathological cyanosis.
If premature infants develop jaundice, parents inevitably worry. So how can we prevent premature jaundice in such cases? Preventive measures include: If a woman has had a baby with jaundice in her previous pregnancy, she should take precautions and regularly take traditional Chinese medicine.
2. Postnatally, premature infants should be closely observed for heart rate, heart sounds, degree of anemia, and changes in liver size to prevent and treat early heart failure.
It is also necessary to closely monitor the jaundice in the sclera, and if jaundice is detected, treatment should be initiated promptly and the color changes of the jaundice monitored to understand its progression or regression.
3. When premature infants require exchange transfusion therapy, it is necessary to promptly disinfect the ward air and prepare all necessary blood and medication supplies, strictly following operational protocols.
Additionally, it is important for adults to ensure the cleanliness of infants' skin, umbilical cords, and buttocks to prevent injuries and infections.
4. Pay attention to the systemic symptoms of premature infants with yellow fetus, and whether there are symptoms such as listlessness, drowsiness, difficulty sucking breast, nervousness, bismus, rigidity of limbs or convulsions, so that children with severe illness can be detected early and treated in a timely manner.
5. Foetal yellow often affects the fetus due to the influence of heat and heat on the pregnant mother, causing premature infants to develop yellow after birth. Therefore, during pregnancy, pregnant mothers should pay attention to their diet, but eat raw and cold food, but are too hungry, and avoid alcohol and spicy and hot products to prevent damage to the spleen and stomach.
The medical part covered in this article is for reading and reference only.
If you feel unwell, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately, and the medical diagnosis and treatment will be subject to offline diagnosis.