Association between phototherapy and serum calcium levels in newborns: A institutional cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most prevalent problems in neonates. Phototherapy is one of the routine methods for management of hyperbilirubinemia. AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate significant change in serum calcium level in term newborns who are undergoing phototherapy and to find out the association between effect of phototherapy on serum calcium levels in newborns. Methods: 60 newborns with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia admitted in newborn nursery were selected for the study. Serum calcium estimation was done before phototherapy. All newborns were subjected to double surface phototherapy. After 48 hours of phototherapy serum calcium was estimated and compared with earlier value. Results: Mean serum bilirubin level and mean serum calcium levels before phototherapy were 15.2 1.25 mg/dl and 9.2 1.2 mg/dl respectively. While after phototherapy we observed that mean serum bilirubin level and mean serum calcium levels were 11.2 2.6 mg/dl and 8.11 0.54 mg/dl respectively. The difference of these before and after phototherapy were also found to be statistically significant (p=