Background: Jaundice is very common in newborn babies, with about 60% of full-term babies and 80% of premature babies having it in their first week of life. Phototherapy is the most common way to help babies with severe jaundice. It can treat and stop it from getting worse. Hypocalcemia is one of its complications.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate how phototherapy affects the levels of calcium and vitamin D in newborns with high bilirubin levels and to assess the effect of using different types and duration of phototherapy on Ca ion levels.
Methods: The current Prospective cohort study was conducted in our unit on neonates diagnosed with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and receiving phototherapy. Our study included 114 neonates divided into 2 groups: group A, which had full-term babies, and group B, which had preterm babies. All cases were subjected to history, examination, and investigation which included CBC, total and ionized calcium, vitamin D, and bilirubin levels at admission and 48 hours after phototherapy application.
Results: Our study found that preterm and full-term babies have statistically different levels of vitamin D and calcium in their blood after being treated with phototherapy for 48 hours. The levels were higher in preterm babies compared to full-term babies, with P value < 0.05.
In conclusion, phototherapy has a big impact on the levels of calcium and vitamin D in the blood. Low calcium in the blood can happen with phototherapy, and it doesn't matter what kind of phototherapy or how long it is done.