Journal of Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (Aug 2021)
Effect of phototherapy on serum calcium level in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia
Abstract
ABSTRACT : Neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia or jaundice is one of the commonest issues affecting neonates. It is observed in up to 60% of term infants and 80% of preterm infants .Phototherapy is one of the therapy methods for jaundice Hypocalcemia is one of the lesser known side effects, but is a significant complication induced by phototherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective cross sectional study , conducted between May 2020 and April 2021 at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Newborn Care Unit of Karnali Academy of Health sciences (KAHS), Jumla. A total of 40 neonates with jaundice of either sex managed by phototherapy were enrolled in the study. Total serum bilirubin levels and serum calcium levels were checked before and after phototherapy. All the data were recorded in the preformed proforma and was analyzed using SPSS version 20. p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: As per the study, the mean age of the neonates was 4.12±1.09 days and mean gestational age was 38.55 ± 2.34 weeks. The mean age at which jaundice was noticed in the neonates was 4.13 ± 1.4 days .Pre-phototherapy and post phototherapy level of total serum bilirubin was 14.53 mg/dl ± 2.91 mg/dl and 10.29 mg/dl ± 2.13 mg/dl respectively whereas serum calcium level before and after initiating phototherapy was 9.23 ± 1.11 mg/dl and 8.37 ± 0.69 mg/dl. respectively. 22.5% of jaundiced neonates receiving phototherapy developed hypocalcemia. CONCLUSION : Hypocalcemia is a common complication of phototherapy which is a commonly used modality of treatment for neonatal jaundice. Keywords: hyperbilirubinemia, hypocalcemia, phototherapy
