Efficacy of single phototherapy with low-cost reflective sheets versus single phototherapy alone in mild-to-moderate unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia in full-term neonates.

Background: An economical alternative method of increasing the light intensity of phototherapy for neonatal jaundice is the use of reflective sheets placed on the sides of the incubator.

Aim: To determine whether reflective sheets in addition to phototherapy increase the reduction of bilirubin levels and the duration of hospital stay.

Methods: The study was undertaken in the neonatal intensive care unit of Cairo University Children's Hospital. There were two groups: a study group of 90 full-term neonates with neonatal jaundice who received single phototherapy in incubators covered with white plastic reflective sheets and a control group of 90 full-term neonates with neonatal jaundice who received single phototherapy without the reflective sheets.

Results: The mean (SD) rate of bilirubin decline in the first 24 hours of phototherapy was greater in the study group [3.7 (0.86) µmol/L/hr] than in the control group [2.2 (0.14) µmol/L/hr] (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Use of reflective sheets decreases the total duration of phototherapy and the cost and duration of hospitalisation without any added complications.Abbreviations: AAP: American Academy of Pediatrics; HIDS: high-intensity double-surface; LMIC: low- and middle-income countries; MCTP: mirror-covered tunnel phototherapy; NICU: neonatal intensive care unit; TSB: total serum bilirubin.