

Li Jiao Yan

About me
Li Jiaoyan, female, attending physician, Master of Pediatric Medicine integrating Chinese and Western medicine. Graduated from Hunan University of Chinese Medicine.
Research interests include integrating Chinese and Western medicine for neonates and pediatric internal medicine, with expertise in treating common and frequent diseases in neonates and children, as well as emergency rescue of critical conditions. Proficient in monitoring the growth and development of children in early stages, assessing their developmental levels, and providing guidance.
Proficient in diseases
Treatment of common and multiple diseases in newborns and children, as well as emergency treatment of critical illnesses, monitoring of early childhood growth and development, assessment of early childhood developmental levels, and guidance.

Voices

Will newborn jaundice cause the ears to turn yellow?
Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms in neonates, especially in early newborns. It can be a symptom of normal development in newborns, or it can be a manifestation of certain diseases. Jaundice is generally divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice, with the main symptom being the yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes. Typically, jaundice starts from the face and then spreads to the trunk and limbs. If the degree of jaundice is relatively severe, yellowing will appear on the entire body, including the ears. Generally, if the baby is visibly yellow, it is advisable to monitor the jaundice. If the jaundice value is significantly high and confirmed to be high in the blood, it is considered pathological jaundice, and it is recommended to seek timely intervention and treatment.

Is a bilirubin level of 20 high for a newborn?
If a newborn's skin jaundice reaches a level of twenty, it is a warning sign that the jaundice is significantly elevated. It is advised to promptly go to the hospital for an examination. If the bilirubin levels in the blood are indeed that high, timely intervention and treatment are necessary. Normally, for physiological jaundice, the levels should not exceed fifteen after seventy-two hours in infants. Even during the peak period of four to five days, it should not surpass fifteen. If the jaundice noticeably increases within the first three days and exceeds twenty, the severity of the jaundice might be worse. The younger the newborn, especially with levels above twenty, the higher the risk of bilirubin entering the brain, potentially leading to bilirubin encephalopathy. Therefore, with jaundice reaching twenty, it is still recommended to promptly go to the hospital for intervention and treatment.

Nursing Measures for Children with Rickets
Rickets requires relevant home care. During the active phase of rickets, it is best to avoid early sitting, standing, and walking. For chest deformities, prone neck lifting and chest expansion exercises can be performed. For lower limb deformities, muscle massage can be done. For bow legs, massage the outer leg muscles and perform abductive and external rotation exercises after massaging both knee joints. For knock knees, massage the inner muscle group and perform internal rotation exercises after massaging both ankle joints. For posterior protrusion of the lumbar spine, massage the lumbosacral area and frequently lie prone to increase muscle tone, assisting in the recovery of deformities. For mild to moderate bow legs, it may be appropriate to slightly elevate the outside of the shoe by about 0.5 cm. For mild to moderate knock knees, it may be appropriate to slightly elevate the inside of the shoe by about 0.5 cm. Observe for one to three months and adjust the padding height as necessary, which generally can correct the condition. Additionally, children should be exposed to more outdoor sunlight and have a rich nutritional intake, including nutrient-rich proteins and dairy products to aid in recovery from the disease.

Do newborns with jaundice love to sleep?
In newborns with jaundice, it is important to determine whether it is physiological or pathological jaundice. Typically, babies with normal physiological jaundice are generally in good condition, able to eat and sleep well. If they are hungry or uncomfortable, they will cry and wake up. However, if a baby continuously sleeps without waking up for a long period of time, does not wake up even when stimulated, it might indicate a condition of excessive sleepiness, which then falls into a pathological state. If the jaundice significantly worsens and affects the brain, it is often referred to as bilirubin encephalopathy, which might initially manifest as excessive sleepiness. Severe infections or other diseases can also present excessive sleepiness as a symptom. Therefore, if you notice that the baby is sleeping significantly more than usual, and appears lethargic and unresponsive, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly.

Is it useful for newborns with jaundice to take probiotics?
Probiotics are useful for newborn jaundice. After oral administration of probiotics, they help establish a normal gut microbiota in babies and then reduce the enterohepatic circulation of bilirubin, which aids in the treatment of jaundice. Common probiotics, often referred to in layman's terms as live bacteria, include species like Saccharomyces boulardii, Bifidobacterium, or Lactobacillus, among others. These probiotics are available in pharmacies. Generally, for newborns, especially those who are breastfed and do not recover well from jaundice, oral probiotics can have a therapeutic effect on reducing jaundice, so it is suitable for newborn babies to consume certain probiotics.

Is neonatal jaundice seriously high?
Neonatal jaundice is a common phenomenon in the neonatal period, divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. If it is pathological jaundice and there is no active intervention, the continuous increase of jaundice can significantly affect the baby. There might be severe sequelae, such as a significant rise in indirect bilirubin, which could lead to bilirubin encephalopathy, affecting the normal function of his nervous system, leading to abnormalities in hearing or cognitive and motor development delays. In severe cases, it could even lead to the baby's death. If conjugated bilirubin is elevated, there might be abnormalities in liver function. If not promptly treated, there could be liver damage or failure, which in severe cases may also threaten the baby's life. Therefore, it is advisable to seek prompt medical attention and treatment if jaundice levels are high.

How to treat rickets in a 2-year-old baby?
Rickets in two-year-old infants is caused by a deficiency in vitamin D leading to a disturbance in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, resulting in abnormal skeletal development. This class of systemic, chronic, nutritional diseases typically manifests in two-year-olds who are able to walk and stand. Due to the force of gravity, lower limb deformities may develop, leading to bowlegs or knock-knees, and possibly even a 'K'-shaped limb deformity. The spine may also develop kyphosis or scoliosis. Around the age of two, it is generally the residual stage of the disease, which often does not require pharmacological treatment. For mild to moderate cases, physical exercise should be enhanced, and active or passive rehabilitation methods should be used to correct skeletal deformities. It is recommended to seek treatment in the pediatric rehabilitation department; severe skeletal deformities may require surgical correction.

Newborn jaundice, how long does it fade?
Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms during the neonatal period. It can be a normal physiological phenomenon, or it may be an external manifestation of certain diseases. Neonatal jaundice is divided into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. Physiological jaundice does not require intervention, and the baby's general condition is still acceptable. Typically, physiological jaundice in full-term infants appears between two to three days after birth, peaks at four to five days, and subsides around ten days, generally not lasting more than two weeks. In preterm infants, it may last slightly longer, but generally, jaundice does not exceed four weeks. If the progression of jaundice is rapid, severe, or appears early, pathological jaundice might be considered. Pathological jaundice may be due to certain pathological factors causing abnormal jaundice. Depending on the cause of the disease and whether there is timely intervention and treatment for jaundice, the resolution time may also vary.

How is rickets diagnosed?
Rickets is a chronic nutritional disease caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, which leads to a disruption in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, resulting in abnormal bone development. Typically, the initial symptoms of rickets are most commonly seen 2-3 months after birth. At this stage, affected children often show neurological symptoms such as excessive sweating unrelated to the season, irritability, particularly in infants under three months old who can become easily agitated, and exhibit straining as if constipated, but these are not specific symptoms of rickets. Early diagnosis generally requires specific tests such as blood biochemistry to check the levels of 125 dihydroxy vitamin D3, as well as calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood, and to see if there is any change in serum alkaline phosphatase. The active phase is mainly characterized by skeletal changes, such as early signs of enlarged fontanelles or delayed closure, late teething, and sometimes a softening of the skull resembling a ping-pong ball, gradually leading to a square skull. Subsequently, changes like pigeon chest or noticeable deformities in the lower limbs such as X-shaped legs, O-shaped legs, or K-shaped legs may appear. Sometimes, there may also be curvature of the spine, with occasional scoliosis. These obvious skeletal changes make the condition more recognizable, though the initial presentations are not very typical, necessitating related biochemical blood tests.

How to treat rickets X-type legs?
If rickets presents with an X-shaped deformity, it generally indicates either an active phase of the disease or the residual phase. During this time, it is advisable to minimize the child's standing and walking at home. For lower limb deformities, muscle massages can be performed. For X-shaped legs, massage the inner muscle groups, followed by internal rotation exercises after massaging the double sliding joints. Typically, early treatment involves corrective rehabilitation techniques, and it is possible to visit a pediatric rehabilitation department for relevant manual treatments. If there is a significant skeletal deformity, surgical intervention may be necessary for correction.