DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY

- The patient active, demonstrates good suck and shows no difficulty in feeding as
observed and verbalised by the mother during interviews. She is fully dependent on her
mother and health professionals regarding her health during their stay at the hospital. At
this age, Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Development on Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust is
present. Infants are entirely dependent on their caregivers. It is observed when the
patient sticks to her mother mostly during feeding, changing her diapers, and when
calming whenever she feels distressed. Hence, the patient’s health and trust is greatly
impacted by the interactions she had with her mother and the health care provider.

SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENT

- As stated by the mother, none of her other children had experience jaundice and that
they had no family history of the said disease. However, one factor that affects the
patient’s condition is her AOG which is 37 weeks and considered as early term.
Newborns under 38 weeks have an underdeveloped liver with limited function, which
leads to slower metabolism of bilirubin. Although breast milk is important for the infant’s
nutrition, it may potentially make jaundice worse or last longer. This is because there are
certain substances in breast milk such as lipid and fatty acids that may prevent a baby's
liver from breaking down bilirubin in their system. Specifically, presence of
b-glucuronidase in breast milk is implicated in increasing the recirculation of bilirubin, as
this enzyme converts bilirubin back to its unconjugated form in the intestine, resulting in
its reabsorption to the liver.

MEDICATION AND TREATMENT

1. Ampicillin
- an antibiotic medication that is sometimes used to treat infections in neonates. In some
cases, neonatal jaundice can be caused by an underlying infection, such as a urinary
tract infection or sepsis, and in such cases, ampicillin may be prescribed as part of the
treatment regimen. If a neonate with jaundice is suspected to have an infection,
including sepsis, meningitis, or pneumonia, ampicillin may be given to treat the infection.
In such cases, the decision to use ampicillin would be made by a healthcare professional
based on the specific clinical circumstances and after considering all the potential
treatment options and associated risks. It's worth noting that ampicillin can sometimes
cause jaundice as a side effect, particularly in premature infants or in cases of high-dose
or prolonged treatment. Therefore, the use of ampicillin in neonates with jaundice
requires careful monitoring by a healthcare professional to minimize the risk of adverse
effects and ensure appropriate dosing and duration of treatment.
2. Diazepam
- generally not a medication used specifically for the treatment of neonatal jaundice. One
such situation may be if a neonate with jaundice is experiencing severe muscle rigidity or
spasms. In rare cases, certain metabolic disorders or neurological conditions associated
with jaundice can cause these symptoms. In such instances, diazepam, as a muscle
relaxant, may be used to alleviate the muscle spasms or rigidity and provide
symptomatic relief.