Overview of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia at Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital

This study was done to assess the prevalence of neonatal jaundice, underlying risk factors and efficacy of phototherapy, which would be of value in identifying and implementing strategies to prevent morbidity and mortality from this condition. A retrospective study was carried out in 86 neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit at Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital, Attarkhel, Kathmandu from May, 2005 to April 2008. All of the newborns who developed hyperbilirubinemia and required phototherapy and/or exchange blood transfusion (EBT) were included in this study. Case records were evaluated for details of maternal and babies birth history and clinical examinations. The initiation of phototherapy and/or EBT were done by using standard guidelines. Out of total of 820 NICU admissions, 86 (10.5%) had significant hyperbilirubinemia. Amongst them 59.3% were male and 40.7% female. Septicemia, prematurity and ABO incompatibility were observed in 33.7%, 23.2% and 13.9% cases respectively. Phototherapy was required in 95.5% and EBT in 4.6% cases. In our study, septicemia, prematurity and ABO incompatibility were found to be the most common risk factors of neonatal jaundice. The data showed, phototherapy as an effective procedure in management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.