Neonataalifototerapiassa
Neonatal phototherapy is a common medical treatment used to manage hyperbilirubinemia, a condition characterized by elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood of newborn infants. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment produced during the normal breakdown of red blood cells. In newborns, the liver may not be fully mature enough to process bilirubin efficiently, leading to its accumulation. High levels of bilirubin can cause jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes, and in severe cases, can lead to serious neurological damage known as kernicterus.
Phototherapy works by converting bilirubin into less toxic byproducts that can be more easily excreted by
The treatment is usually administered in a hospital nursery or neonatal intensive care unit. The infant is