Pathologic jaundice and physiologic jaundice can generally be distinguished from each other by methods such as duration, extent of occurrence and serum bilirubin test.
1. Duration: Physiologic jaundice usually appears later, for example, in newborns, it starts to appear 2 to 3 days after birth and subsides in 7 to 10 days. Pathologic jaundice usually appears within one day after birth and lasts for more than half a month.
2. Scope of occurrence: Physiologic jaundice usually occurs in a smaller scope and may only occur on the face. Pathologic jaundice usually occurs in a larger area, and may appear in the face, trunk, limbs, hands, feet and heart.
3. Serum bilirubin test: the serum bilirubin test of physiologic jaundice is generally in the normal range or mildly elevated, while the serum bilirubin test of pathologic jaundice is generally much higher than the normal value.
There may be other ways to distinguish pathological jaundice from physiological jaundice, so consult your physician for clarification.