The effect of Head Covering on Phototherapy-Induced Hypocalcemia in Jaundiced Full-Term Neonates

Abstract

Abstract Background Phototherapy is the main method used in treatment of significant indirect hyperbilirubinemia and it reduces the risk of exchange transfusion. Hypocalcemia is one of the side effects of phototherapy due to inhibition of pineal gland via transcranial illumination, resulting in decline of melatonin secretion that further inhibits the effect of cortisol on bone calcium and ultimately increase the bone uptake. Aim To assess the effect of head covering to ameliorate hypocalcemic effect of different types of phototherapy in full term jaundiced neonates. Patients and Methods A prospective randomized controlled study that included 120 jaundiced neonates requiring phototherapy which divided into two main groups; group I (treated with lamp phototherapy) which was equally subdivided into two groups, group A (without head cover) and group B (with head cover) and group Il (treated with LED phototherapy) which was equally subdivided into group C (without head cover) and group D (with head cover). Results Head cover reduced the incidence of phototherapy induced hypocalcemia without affecting rate of decline of bilirubin on both types of phototherapy used. In lamp hypocalcemia (<8mg/dl) was detected in 33.3% in jaundiced neonates without head cover which was significant higher than those with head cover 6.7%. As for LED, yet not statistically significant hypocalcemia was detected in 13.3% in jaundiced neonates without head cover, which was higher than those with head cover 3.3%. Conclusion Incidence of phototherapy induced hypocalcemia is reduced by using head cover especially while using lamp phototherapy.