incidence of phototherapy-induced hypocalcemia in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia

Background: hyperbilirubinemia is the most common clinical abnormality in newborns during the first week of life. phototherapy is the standard treatment but may cause complications, including hypocalcemia, a lesser-known yet significant adverse effect. this study investigated the impact of phototherapy on serum calcium levels in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. methods: this observational study was conducted in the nicu of byl and t.n. medical college, mumbai, over 12 months after ethical approval. we included 100 neonates (> 34 weeks gestational age) with hyperbilirubinemia receiving phototherapy. serum calcium levels were measured before and after phototherapy, and neonates were monitored for clinical hypocalcemia. data were recorded in a pre-formatted proforma and analyzed using spss version 27 (p <0.05 was considered statistically significant). results: the mean age of neonates was 3±1.2 days, the mean gestational age was 37±1.2 weeks, and the mean jaundice duration was 2.8±1.10 days. median serum calcium levels decreased significantly from 8.6 mg/dl (8.49-8.61) pre-phototherapy to 7.35 mg/dl (7.33-7.50) post-phototherapy (p <0.001). hypocalcemia (serum calcium ≤7 mg/dl) occurred in 16% of neonates, with 60% exhibiting mild symptoms like jitteriness or irritability. conclusion: phototherapy significantly reduces serum calcium levels in jaundiced neonates, with a notable incidence of hypocalcemia. clinicians should monitor calcium levels and watch for symptoms during phototherapy to prevent complications. further studies are needed to establish preventive strategies.