Study of auditory brain stem response in newborns treated from unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia started in the first day of life

Background Neonatal jaundice remains a very common presentation in newborn babies, especially during the first week of life. Serious morbidities and long-term sequelae are seen in babies with delayed diagnosis and intervention. A timely and early decision-making workout would make the outcome better. First-hour-of-life presenting icterus is a worrisome sign, and hence, a swift intervention is much needed. Aim To compare the auditory brain stem response results between healthy newborns and newborns managed from pathological unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia started in the first day of life. Patients and methods A case–control study was conducted at the neonatal intensive care unit of Alexandria University Maternity Hospital on 55 full-term newborns; 30 were cases who had pathological unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in the first day of life using Queensland Clinical Guideline: neonatal jaundice 2017, and 25 were controls who had no pathological jaundice and were healthy. The exclusion criteria were considered. Diagnostic auditory brain stem response tests were done at the Audiology Unit in Outpatient clinics at Alexandria Main University Hospital by an audiologist for each ear of the case group within 7 days of complete management and were made for each ear of the controls group from 7 to 15 days of age. Results The study found no significant difference between both studied groups regarding latency, amplitude of waves I, III, and V, V/I amplitude ratio, and interpeak interval between waves I–III, III–V, and I–V at intensity of 70 dBnHL on both right and left ears. Conclusions Early identification and management of newborns with early-onset pathological hyperbilirubinemia using Queensland Clinical Guidelines: Neonatal jaundice 2017 can protect them from the acute bilirubin encephalopathy and auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder.