EFFECT OF PHOTOTHERAPY ON SERUM CALCIUM LEVELS IN NEONATES WITH UNCONJUGATED HYPERBILIRUBINAEMIA

Jaundice affects about 60% of term newborns and 80% of preterm newborns in the first week of life, when the level of bilirubin rises more than 5-6 mg/dl. Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is caused by an increase in blood bilirubin levels above the normal range. Phototherapy is the treatment of choice. prevalence of hypocalcaemia in phototherapy treated term and preterm newborns, hence some more studies are required in this direction to find out a definite association between phototherapy and hypocalcaemia in icteric newborns. Therefore, the present study was intended to determine effect of phototherapy on serum calcium levels of neonates with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia after 48 hours of phototherapy or at the end of phototherapy in case of duration of phototherapy is less than 48 hours. The present 'Prospective observational study' was carried out from August 2022 to June 2024. Total 200 neonate with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia were enrolled in study. Mean age of neonate with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia was 4.01 ± 1.29 days with range was from 2-6 days. Among neonate, statistically highly significant decrease in serum calcium and bilirubin level after stoppage of phototherapy. Among term neonate, statistically highly significant decrease in serum calcium and bilirubin level after stoppage of phototherapy. Among pre-term neonate, statistically highly significant decrease in serum calcium and bilirubin level after stoppage of phototherapy (p <0.05). Phototherapy induced hypocalcemia is a significant findings in neonate with jaundice. Serum calcium level falls to a significant level in both phototherapy treated term and preterm newborns. Though fall is more significant in preterm newborns, term newborns are also at risk. Also there is significant fall in serum bilirubin level after phototherapy in neonate with jaundice.