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What could be one to manage high bilirubin in a newborn?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Our newborn baby was found to have serum bilirubin 20 and direct 18 on the 4th day.

Kindly suggest appropriate advice. If we are going for photo therapy, then which light is better?
Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Deepak Patel is a well-experienced Pediatrician with 17 years of clinical experience. He completed his MBBS from the University of Delhi in 2007 and MD in Pediatrics from the University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, in 2010. He is currently working at Laxmi Nagar in Delhi.

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Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concerns.

1. Serum bilirubin of 20 is high for the baby. The value of 18 mg/dL should be indirect bilirubin, because indirect bilirubin is increased in most cases. If direct bilirubin is so much, then the treatment is different.

2. If it is indirect bilirubin, then phototherapy should be done. The child should be put in phototherapy units; these are special lights which emit radiation at a particular range.

3. Also, blood group of mother and child and DCT levels (direct Coombs test) should be done in the child. I advise you to admit the child in the hospital and start phototherapy.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

I have admitted mother and child to the hospital. How many hours are needed for phototherapy? Can you brief more on DCT?

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Deepak Patel is a well-experienced Pediatrician with 17 years of clinical experience. He completed his MBBS from the University of Delhi in 2007 and MD in Pediatrics from the University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, in 2010. He is currently working at Laxmi Nagar in Delhi.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

1. Usually, phototherapy for three to four days is required. Daily bilirubin levels guide the days needed for phototherapy.

2. If DCT is positive, then the chances of further raise of bilirubin are high. It is considered as a bad prognostic factor in bilirubin treatment.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At August 17, 2016
Reviewed At April 25, 2024

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Deepak Patel is a well-experienced Pediatrician with 17 years of clinical experience. He completed his MBBS from the University of Delhi in 2007 and MD in Pediatrics from the University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, in 2010. He is currently working at Laxmi Nagar in Delhi.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

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Dr. Deepak Patel

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Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Deepak Patel is a well-experienced Pediatrician with 17 years of clinical experience. He completed his MBBS from the University of Delhi in 2007 and MD in Pediatrics from the University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, in 2010. He is currently working at Laxmi Nagar in Delhi.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
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