Phototherapy
• Phototherapy is the usual form of
treatment prescribed if treatment is required.
It uses the wavelength of the blue spectrum
of light to break down bilirubin molecules
thereby assisting the immature liver to
process the bilirubin faster.
• Once upon a time natural sunlight
was a popular therapy but these days doctors
have their doubts on the efficiency of this
method due to depletion of the ozone layer
- the sun rays could prove to be too strong
for baby's sensitive skin doing more harm
than good in the long run.
• Phototherapy is performed in the
hospital premises under medical supervision.
• Treatment is usually given intermittently
e.g. for one hour in four.
• The baby is undressed and the eyes
are well protected with shields before being
placed under blue fluorescent lamps. The
light breaks down the bilirubin which the
baby then excretes.
• Sometimes babies are placed on fiber
optic blankets to increase the amount of
absorbed light.
• The treatment of jaundice with lights
is easy but if that fails drastic forms
of treatment will be taken, so it is important
to maximize the time under phototherapy.
|
