Call for Papers : Volume 16, Issue 01, January 2025, Open Access; Impact Factor; Peer Reviewed Journal; Fast Publication

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Effect of head covering on phototherapy induced hypocalcemia in jaundiced neonates with gestational age more than 35 weeks

Background: Phototherapy is a commonly used treatment for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Hypocalcemia is a known adverse effect of phototherapy. We conducted this study to measure the efficacy and safety of head covering in prevention of phototherapy-induced hypocalcemia. Material and Methods: A total 210 newborns of >35week gestation with neonatal jaundice were included in the study. They were randomized into two equal groups- group A underwent phototherapy without any head cover while the heads of newborns in group B was covered with a cap. In both the groups, ionized serum calcium was measured at the start of phototherapy and at 48 hours. Results: The mean decline in ionized serum calcium in group A was 0.63mg/dl while in group B it was 0.34mg/dl. The incidence of hypocalcemia in the group A without head covering was 27.6 % (29 cases) while in group B with head cover was 10.5 % (11 cases). Conclusion: Phototherapy can cause hypocalcemia in a significant proportion of newborns. Monitoring of serum calcium during phototherapy is desirable to detect hypocalcemia. Use of a head cover during phototherapy appears to be a safe and effective intervention for prevention of phototherapy-induced hypocalcemia.

Author: 
Aftab A Siddiqui, Yusuf I Ansari, Davinder Singh, Manish Chopra and Dilipkumar Choudhary
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