Publication:

Comparison of etiological factors of full term neonates with severe and moderate hyperbilirubinemia: a tertiary hospital based study in Eastern region of India

Background In approximately 60% of term infant and 80% 0f preterm infant developed hyperbilirubinemia in the first week of life.  Different etiological factors are responsible for it. This study focuses on comparison of etiological factors of severe and moderate hyperbilirubinemia in full term neonates.

Methods This is a tertiary hospital based descriptive survey research.80 full term neonates in each group with severe and moderate hyperbilirubinemia were selected by convenience sampling to compare the etiological factors of severe and moderate hyperbilirubinemia.

Results Neonates with ABO incompatibility, cephalhematoma, G6PD deficiency, Rh incompatibility and polycythemia in both groups had higher mean total serum bilirubin (TSB) level. Neonates with sepsis in both the groups and idiopathic cases of moderate group showed lower mean TSB levels. Higher mean TSB level was seen in idiopathic cases of severe group. There was no neonate of breast-milk jaundice in the severe group but 2.50% of them belonged to the moderate group.  There was significant association between severe and moderate bilirubin level and the post-natal age of neonate.

Conclusions Mean total serum bilirubin level values were higher in cephalhematoma, G6PD deficiency, Rh incompatibility, ABO incompatibility, polycythemia, sepsis and in idiopathic cases in the severe group as well as in moderate group. Total serum bilirubin tends to be higher in the age group of 1-5 days. Awareness and etiology specific prevention is essential to control the damage due to hyperbilirubinemia.