Phototherapy Treatment Duration For Newborns: How Long Is Necessary?

Phototherapy is a treatment for newborn jaundice, a common and usually harmless condition caused by high levels of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a breakdown product of hemoglobin made by the liver. It is processed through the liver and excreted from the body. However, in newborns, the liver may not be mature enough to process bilirubin effectively, leading to a build-up that causes a yellow discolouration of the skin and eyes. Phototherapy uses light to eliminate bilirubin from the blood, converting it into products that can be excreted by the body. The duration of phototherapy depends on the severity of jaundice, the underlying cause, and the age of the baby. Treatment typically lasts for a few days, and may be administered in a hospital or at home, until bilirubin levels are low enough to be safe.

Phototherapy is used to treat newborn jaundice

Phototherapy is a treatment for newborn jaundice, a common, temporary, and usually harmless condition in newborn infants. Jaundice occurs when there is a build-up of bilirubin, an orange/red pigment, in the blood. While most babies with jaundice do not need treatment, as the condition usually gets better within 10 to 14 days, some babies may require phototherapy if they have high levels of bilirubin in their blood.

Phototherapy is a special type of light treatment that helps to eliminate bilirubin from the blood. It involves exposing the baby's skin to as much light as possible, with the baby placed under a light in a cot or incubator, and their eyes covered to protect them from the light. The light waves are absorbed by the baby's skin and blood, changing the bilirubin into products that can pass through their system.

The length of phototherapy treatment can vary depending on the baby's condition. In some cases, it may only be needed for 24 hours or less, while in other cases, it may be required for up to 5 to 7 days. The treatment is generally very effective for newborn jaundice and has few side effects. During phototherapy, the baby's temperature is monitored to ensure they don't get too hot, and they are checked for signs of dehydration.

If the baby's jaundice does not improve with phototherapy, intensified phototherapy may be offered, which involves increasing the amount of light or using additional sources of light. If phototherapy is still ineffective or the baby has very high levels of bilirubin, a complete blood transfusion, known as an exchange transfusion, may be necessary.

It reduces bilirubin levels in the blood

Phototherapy is an effective treatment to reduce bilirubin levels in newborn babies with jaundice. Jaundice is a common condition in newborn infants, affecting both full-term and premature babies, and usually appearing during the first week of the baby's life. It is caused by a build-up of bilirubin, an orange/red pigment in the blood, which is produced by the normal breakdown of red blood cells. While most babies with jaundice do not need treatment, some infants may develop high levels of bilirubin, known as hyperbilirubinemia, which can be dangerous.

Phototherapy is a special type of light treatment that uses light in the blue-green spectrum (wavelengths 430-490nm) to eliminate bilirubin from the blood. The light waves are absorbed by the baby's skin and blood, converting bilirubin molecules into water-soluble isomers that can be easily excreted by the body. This process also generates excited-state bilirubin molecules that react with oxygen to produce colourless oxidation products, further reducing bilirubin levels.

The effectiveness of phototherapy depends on the dose, which is determined by the spectral wavelength of light, the spectral irradiance delivered to the infant's skin, and the total spectral power. To maximise the dose, it is important to bring the light source as close to the infant as possible and increase the skin surface area exposed to the light. This can be achieved by using a combination of overhead phototherapy units and bili blankets, which can be placed under the infant.

During phototherapy, the baby is placed under bright lights in a warm, enclosed bed, wearing only a diaper and eye protection. The eye protection is important because, while retinal damage from phototherapy has not been reported in newborns, it is a known risk of prolonged exposure to blue light in adults. The baby's temperature is also monitored to ensure they don't get too hot.

The duration of phototherapy depends on the individual case, but it usually lasts for a few days until the baby's liver is mature enough to handle the bilirubin on its own. Bilirubin levels are tested frequently during treatment, and phototherapy is stopped when the levels fall to a safe range. In most cases, phototherapy is very effective in reducing bilirubin levels and has few side effects.

Treatment length depends on the infant's age and condition

The length of phototherapy treatment depends on several factors, including the infant's age, weight, and condition.

Jaundice is a common condition in newborn infants, affecting both full-term and premature babies. It is caused by a build-up of bilirubin, a naturally occurring orange/red pigment in the blood, which is produced by the breakdown of red blood cells. While most babies with jaundice do not require treatment, as the condition usually gets better within 10 to 14 days, some infants may need phototherapy to help break down the bilirubin.

The treatment length for phototherapy can vary from a few days to a week or more and depends on several factors. One factor is the infant's age. Newborn jaundice typically appears during the first week of a baby's life, with the jaundice disappearing by 1 to 2 weeks of age. However, in some cases, jaundice may last longer, especially if the baby was born prematurely or is solely breastfed.

Another factor that affects treatment length is the severity of the jaundice and the corresponding bilirubin levels in the infant's blood. Bilirubin levels are tested frequently during phototherapy, and treatment is typically stopped when the levels fall to a safe range, which can take a day or two. In some cases, phototherapy may only be needed for 24 hours or less, while in others, it may be required for up to a week or more.

Additionally, the weight of the infant also plays a role in determining the duration of phototherapy. A common guideline is to initiate phototherapy when the total serum bilirubin level is greater than five times the birth weight. For example, in a 1-kg infant, phototherapy is started at a bilirubin level of 5 mg/dL, while in a 2-kg infant, it is started at 10 mg/dL.

It is important to note that each baby's condition is unique, and healthcare providers will determine the specific treatment plan, including the duration of phototherapy, based on individual factors.

Phototherapy can be done in hospital or at home

Phototherapy is a treatment for newborn jaundice, a common condition that occurs when there is a build-up of bilirubin in a baby's blood. Bilirubin is a naturally occurring orange/red pigment that is produced by the normal breakdown of red blood cells. While most babies with jaundice do not need treatment, as the condition usually gets better within 10 to 14 days, some babies will require phototherapy treatment.

At home, phototherapy is administered through a special blanket that the baby is wrapped in, known as a bili-blanket. This blanket can be used continuously for 24 hours a day for as long as necessary, and the baby can be diapered, clothed, held, and nursed during treatment. A nurse will visit every day to check on the baby, help with the feeding plan, and monitor the baby's weight and temperature. The baby's bilirubin levels will be tested every day through a blood test to determine when normal levels are reached and phototherapy is no longer needed.

The length of phototherapy treatment varies from baby to baby, but it usually lasts for several days to a week or two. Treatment will be stopped when the baby's bilirubin levels fall to a safe level.

Side effects include watery diarrhoea, dehydration and skin rash

Phototherapy is a treatment used to reduce high levels of bilirubin in newborn babies, which can cause jaundice. Jaundice is a yellow discolouration of the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes. Phototherapy is a special type of light treatment (not using sunlight) that helps a baby's liver to break down and remove bilirubin from the blood.

There are no specific guidelines for when to discontinue phototherapy, but it usually lasts for 1 to 2 days in hospital. In some cases, phototherapy will only be needed for 24 hours or less, but it may be required for up to 5 to 7 days.

During phototherapy, a baby's temperature will be monitored to ensure they do not get too hot, and they will be checked for signs of dehydration. Intravenous fluids may be given if the baby becomes dehydrated and they are not able to drink enough.

Side effects of phototherapy include watery diarrhoea, dehydration, and skin rash. These side effects will disappear once the therapy is stopped. Diarrhoea is a normal side effect, as this is the way the body removes the bilirubin.

If side effects persist after treatment is completed, contact your doctor.

Frequently asked questions