Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Aim: To investigate the electrolyte alterations in newborns ≥ 35 weeks gestation and undergoing phototherapy for neonatal jaundice. Material and methods: Neonates who were born or admitted to a tertiary care centre , receiving Light Emitting Diode(LED) phototherapy for unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia after 24 hrs of life without any co-morbidities were involved in the study. Neonates receiving phototherapy for unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia after 24 hrs of life without any co-morbidities were included in the study. Venous blood samples were collected from the neonates during the course of phototherapy and sent for total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, electrolytes, and blood group. Results: Mean bilirubin at the time admission was 17.65±2.58 and after phototherapy there were significant decrease in bilirubin 13.06±1.96. Mean urea at the time admission was 36.78± 4.63 and after phototherapy there were significant decrease in urea 29.96±4.37, and, mean creatinine at the time admission was 0.91±0.11 and after phototherapy there were significant decrease in creatinine 0.77±0.11. The mean sodium, potassium and calcium level before therapy were 148.50±3.96, 5.11±0.77, and 9.58±0.96 respectively. After phototherapy the mean sodium, potassium and calcium level were 141.36±3.47, 4.36±0.78 and 8.36±0.55 respectively. There was significant difference in sodium level before and after phototherapy with p-value= 0.03. But, in level of Potassium there But, in level of Potassium there was no significant difference (p=0.41) due to phototherapy before and after. Conclusion: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia can easily pickup on clinical examination however require quick and on the spot treatment. If not treated properly, it leads to many complications. Currently the best treatment option for jaundice is photo therapy. Phototherapy is not a treatment free of side effects and further studies need to be conducted to elucidate its harmful effects on neonates.