How many hours per day should an infant with jaundice be exposed to blue light therapy?
Oct 10, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Ma Yan
Introduction
The duration of blue light phototherapy for infant jaundice depends on the severity of the condition. For mild jaundice that meets the criteria for phototherapy, infants are typically exposed to blue light for 12 to 18 hours per day. For severe jaundice meeting the criteria for intensive treatment, double-, triple-, or quadruple-surface phototherapy is used, with each session lasting 12 to 20 hours, administered once daily.
How many hours per day blue light therapy should be administered to infants with jaundice depends on the severity of the jaundice, as phototherapy helps reduce bilirubin levels and improve symptoms.
1. Mild Jaundice
If an infant's jaundice is mild but meets the criteria for phototherapy, it is recommended to administer blue light for 12 to 18 hours per day. Continuous phototherapy is more effective than intermittent treatment in improving jaundice symptoms.
2. Severe Jaundice
If an infant has severe jaundice with bilirubin levels exceeding 20 mg/dL, meeting the criteria for severe jaundice, prompt medical attention and phototherapy are required. In such cases, double-, triple-, or quadruple-surface phototherapy is recommended, with each session lasting 12 to 20 hours, once daily.
After completing a phototherapy session, bilirubin levels should be monitored every 12 to 18 hours. If bilirubin levels approach the threshold for exchange transfusion, monitoring should be increased to every 4 to 6 hours. If bilirubin levels remain elevated, repeat phototherapy is recommended to improve the infant’s jaundice symptoms.
