Determining Jaundice Severity in Neonates using Optical Spectroscopy

Neonatal jaundice is a prevalent condition in newborns caused by elevated bilirubin levels, often requiring timely diagnosis to prevent severe complications like kernicterus. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as serum bilirubin tests and transcutaneous bilirubinometry, though effective, can be invasive, costly, or less accessible in certain settings. Optical spectroscopy has emerged as a promising non-invasive alternative for bilirubin detection, offering rapid and accurate measurement without the need for blood samples. This approach is based on the interaction of light with biological tissues to estimate bilirubin concentration. Despite its potential, spectroscopy is subject to limitations such as variations in skin pigmentation, interference from other chromophores, and sensitivity to environmental factors. Nonetheless, spectroscopy represents a significant step toward improving neonatal jaundice screening, with the potential to enhance early detection and reduce the burden on neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), especially in resource-constrained environments.