A Treatment Profile of Neonatal Hyper-Bilirubinemia in a Tertiary Health Care Hospital

Abstract

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, normally seen in 60% of term babies and 80% of preterm babies during the first week of life. Physiological jaundice appears between 30-72 hours after birth and eventually disappears on 10th day of life. Various reasons and risk factors are associated with jaundice. Eventhough, hyperbilirubinemia is not life threatening condition, the lack of timely treatment to newborns may lead to increased complications and death. The study was carried to identify the incidence, various aetiologies and treatment to hyperbilirubemic neonates. After obtaining, prior approval from ethical committee the study was initiated. The details of neonates admitted in neonatal wards during the year of 2017-2018 were collected from the Medical record department in a tertiary care hospital. The total number of live births in 2017-2018 was 1748 and 74 neonates were identified and treated for hyperbilirubinemia. The present study showed the incidence to be more in female babies than male babies. The female babies were about 55% and male babies were 44% . The preterm babies were 21% and term babies were 78%. The mode of delivery through LSCS was 56% and normal vaginal delivery was 43%. Hyperbilirubinemia seen in Multiparous was around 64% and in primiparous was around 35% . Majority of the newborns were in normal weights and physiological jaundice was the most common type of jaundice seen in newborns. Though, the recent techniques like Hour –Specific nanograms are available, the study indicates the necessity in educating mothers before delivery itself and introducing preventive steps, like pre-discharge assessment to reduce readmission and severity in newborns. The study finds a definite scope for further research and a need for easy techniques to early detection and treatment for the babies.