Frequency of hypocalcemia in jaundiced term neonates under phototherapy.

Abstract

Background: Jaundice is most frequent situations requiring medical attention in neonate (involvev 60% full-term infants and 80% preterm infants in the 1st week after birth). Neonatal jaundice is the most frequent cause for hospital admission in the first 2 weeks of life. Light therapy is one of ordinary approach to treat hyperbilirubinemi. Phototherapy plays a signifying part in treatment and prevention of hyperbilirubinemia. However, this treatment form may lead to development of some complications such as induction of hypocalcemia. Objective: The goal of research is to estimate the outcome of light therapy on serum calcium in neoborne with hyperbilirubinemia who undergo phtotherapy and to find the relation between effect of phototherapy on serum calcium and gender, mode of delivery and type of feeding. Methods: Across sectional study was conducted at neonatal care unit at AlZahraa teaching hospital from January 2017 to December 2017. This study was conducted on 62 neonates (37 male and 25 female) with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia admmited in newborn nursery of either gender managed by phototherapy entered in this study, calcium level evaluated before and 48 hours after light therapy for all neonate under phototherapy and the tow values were compared. Results: There was statistically important decline of serum calcium and bilirubin after phototherapy as compared with serum calcium and bilirubin levels before phototherapy in this study (P<0.001). Four neonates evolved hypocalcemia (sr.Ca<8 mg/dl) no one had symptoms. There was no expressive corporation between decline serum calcium level and gender, mode of delivery and type of feeding. Conclusion: There is significant decrease in serum calcium after light therapy but risk of hypocalcemia is low in healthy babies. No expressive corporation founds between decline in serum calcium and gender, mode of delivery and type of feeding.