A 6-day jaundice index of 18mg/dL in a newborn is serious.
Newborns are categorized into term and preterm babies, the normal jaundice value for term babies is ≤12.9mg/dL, and the normal jaundice value for preterm babies is ≤15mg/dL. If the jaundice index of 18mg/dL is higher than the normal value for both term babies and preterm babies at 6 days of birth, it is considered to be a pathologic jaundice, and therefore it is more serious, and needs to be actively treated.
Since bilirubin can cause damage to the nervous system of newborns, affecting the normal development of the brain and nerves of newborns, parents are advised to take their newborns to the hospital immediately for systematic treatment, so as to avoid the development of the disease, resulting in neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy, which will reduce the quality of life of newborns in the future.