What is the treatment for physiological jaundice in newborns?

Phototherapy is the correct treatment for physiological jaundice in newborns because it helps to reduce elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood. Newborns can develop jaundice due to the immature liver's inability to process and eliminate bilirubin efficiently. This condition typically resolves as their liver matures, but until then, phototherapy is utilized to convert bilirubin into a form that can be more easily excreted through the baby's urine and stool.

During phototherapy, the infant is placed under special lights that emit blue-green light, which helps break down bilirubin in the skin. This non-invasive and effective treatment is the standard care protocol for physiological jaundice, promoting the safe decrease of bilirubin levels without the need for more invasive interventions.

Other treatment options, such as medication therapy, fluid resuscitation, or blood transfusion, are generally reserved for more severe cases of hyperbilirubinemia or specific underlying conditions that may not resolve with phototherapy alone. Thus, for typical physiological jaundice, phototherapy remains the primary and appropriate treatment.