Effect of Phototherapy on Serum Calcium
Effect of Phototherapy on Serum Calcium
Through this study our aim was to evaluate whether significant change in serum calcium level
 occurs in term newborns who are undergoing phototherapy and to find out the association
 between effect of phototherapy on serum calcium level and birth weight, postnatal age and
 type of feeding.
Jaundice is the yellow discoloration of skin, sclerae, and other tissues caused by the
 deposition of bilirubin.

 Approximately 60% of term and 80% of preterm babies develop jaundice in the first week of
 life, and about 10% of breastfed babies are still jaundiced at 1 month. Jaundice is a common
 cause of readmission to hospital after early discharge of newborn infants.

 The most common form of hyperbilirubinaemia observed in neonates is due to unconjugated or
 unbound bilirubin. High levels of unconjugated bilirubin are managed by treatment of the
 underlying cause (e.g. dehydration and sepsis), provision of phototherapy, administration of
 immunoglobulin (in certain cases of haemolytic anaemia) and, in very severe cases, exchange
 transfusion. If left untreated, extreme elevation of unconjugated bilirubin can lead to
 permanent brain damage (kernicterus) and/or death.

 However, exchange transfusion is associated with a significant morbidity, and even mortality
 while phototherapy has several disadvantages which include increasing the duration of
 hospitalization, costs and mother-child separation . It also has some reported side effects
 as rash, loose green stools, dehydration, ocular hazards, oxidative injury, hyperthermia and
 water loss and may be associated with some long-term side effects such as melanocytic nevi,
 skin cancer, allergic disease, patent ductus arterious and retinal damage .

 Some studies are available concerning the prevalence of hypocalcemia in neonates after
 phototherapy, but the results varied based on where the studies were conducted. So, more
 studies were required to reach a definite conclusion. Through this study our aim was to
 evaluate whether significant change in serum calcium level occurs in term newborns who are
 undergoing phototherapy and to find out the association between effect of phototherapy on
 serum calcium level and birth weight, postnatal age and type of feeding.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Stable term neonates with jaundice who require management with phototherapy and are
 fed with full strength formula or breast fed.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Jaundiced neonates with hypocalcemia.

 -  Jaundiced neonates needing exchange transfusion.

 -  Jaundiced neonates suffering from hypothyroidism.

 -  Jaundiced infants of diabetic mother.

 -  Jaundiced infants with other illness as severe RDS, perinatal asphyxia,Sever sepsis or
 hemolytic disease of newborn.

 -  Jaundiced infants with congenital abnormalities.