The incidence and severity of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is much higher in India for various medical and system based reasons. In our country, the magnitude of bilirubin brain damage remains unquantified. This article highlights the gaps in knowledge and various research issues which need to be taken up to tackle this preventable cause of brain damage and hearing loss.
IpS, ChungM, KuligJ. An evidence-based review of important issues concerning neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Pediatrics2004;114:e130–53.
2.
Report 2002–2003: National Neonatal Perinatal Database Network.New Delhi: National Neonatology Forum of India; 2004.
3.
Report 2002–2003: National Neonatal Perinatal Database Human Reproduction Research Centre Network.New Delhi: National Neonatology Forum of India; 2006.
4.
Report 2000: National Neonatal Perinatal Database Network.New Delhi: National Neonatology Forum of India; 2001.
5.
NarangA, KumarP, KumarR.Neonatal jaundice in very low birth weight babies.Indian J Pediatr2001;68: 307–9.
6.
NarangA, GathwalaG, KumarP.Neonatal jaundice: an analysis of 551 cases. Indian Pediatr1997;34: 429–32.
7.
Management of hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn infant 35 or more weeks of gestation.Pediatrics2004;114: 297–316.
8.
AgarwalR, KaushalM, AggarwalR, PaulVK, DeorariAK.Early neonatal hyperbilirubinemia using first day serum bilirubin level. Indian Pediatr2002;39: 724–30.
9.
AwasthiS, RehmanH.Early prediction of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Indian J Pediatr1998;65: 131–9.
10.
LodhaR, DeorariAK, JatanaV, PaulVK.Non-invasive estimation of total serum bilirubin by multi-wavelength spectral reflectance in neonates. Indian Pediatr2000;37: 771–5.
11.
BhatYR, RaoA.Transcutaneous bilirubin in predicting hyperbilirubinemia in term neonates. Indian J Pediatr2008;75: 119–23.
12.
BhutaniVK, JohnsonL, SivieriEM.Predictive ability of a predischarge hour-specific serum bilirubin for subsequent significant hyperbilirubinemia in healthy term and near-term newborns. Pediatrics1999;103: 6–14.
13.
BahlL, SharmaR, SharmaJ.Etiology of neonatal jaundice at Shimla. Indian Pediatr1994;31: 1275–8.
14.
MurkiS, KumarP, MajumdarS, MarwahaN, NarangA.Risk factors for kernicterus in term babies with nonhemolytic jaundice. Indian Pediatr2001;38: 757–62.
15.
DhadedSM, KumarP, NarangA.Safe bilirubin level for term babies with non-hemolytic jaundice. Indian Pediatr1996;33: 1059–60.
16.
AgrawalVK, ShuklaR, MisraPK, KapoorRK, MalikGK.Brainstem auditory evoked response in newborns with hyperbilirubinemia. Indian Pediatr1998;35: 513–8.
17.
BanerjeeTK, HazraA, BiswasA. Neurological disorders in children and adolescents. Indian J Pediatr2009;76: 139–46.
18.
State of India's Newborns.National Neonatology Forum of India and Save the Children US. Washington DC; 2004.
19.
PejaverRK, VishwanathJ.An audit of phototherapy units. Indian J Pediatr2000;67: 883–4.
20.
SarinM, DuttaS, NarangA.Randomized controlled trial of compact fluorescent lamp versus standard phototherapy for the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Indian Pediatr2006;43: 583–90.
21.
MorrisBH, OhW, TysonJE. Aggressive vs. conservative phototherapy for infants with extremely low birth weight. N Engl J Med2008;359: 1885–96.
22.
Curtis-CohenM, StahlGE, CostarinoAT, PolinRA.Randomized trial of prophylactic phototherapy in the infant with very low birth weight. J Pediatr1985;107: 121–4.
23.
TripathiS, SailiA.Effect of prophylactic phototherapy on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia of prematures. Indian J Med Sci2006;60: 385–7.
24.
JangaardKA, VincerMJ, AllenAC.A randomized trial of aggressive versus conservative phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia in infants weighing less than 1500 g: Short- and long-term outcomes. Paediatr Child Health2007;12: 853–8.
25.
KumarP, MurkiS, MalikGK. Light-emitting diodes versus compact fluorescent tubes for phototherapy in neonatal jaundice: A multi-center randomized controlled trial. Indian Pediatr2009:PII: S097475590800565–1.
26.
SariciSU, AlpayF, UnayB, OzcanO, GokcayE.Double versus single phototherapy in term newborns with significant hyperbilirubinemia. J Trop Pediatr2000;46: 36–9.
27.
SivanandanS, ChawlaD, MisraS, AgarwalR, DeorariAK.Effect of sling application on efficacy of phototherapy in healthy term neonates with nonhemolytic jaundice: a randomized conrolled trial. Indian Pediatr2009;46: 23–8.
28.
DjokomuljantoS, QuahBS, SuriniY. Efficacy of phototherapy for neonatal jaundice is increased by the use of low-cost white reflecting curtains. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed2006;91:F439–42.
29.
BansalA, JainS, ParmarV, ChawlaD.Bilirubin rebound after intensive phototherapy for neonatal jaundice. In: XXVIII Annual conference of National Neonatology Forum of India;2008; Kolkata; 2008.
30.
SamantaS, KumarP, KishoreSS, GarewalG, NarangA.Donor blood glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency reduces the efficacy of exchange transfusion in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Pediatrics2009;123:e96–e100.
31.
ThayyilS, MilliganDW.Single versus double volume exchange transfusion in jaundiced newborn infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev2006:CD004592.
32.
ChenHN, LeeML, TsaoLY.Exchange transfusion using peripheral vessels is safe and effective in newborn infants. Pediatrics2008;122:e905–10.
33.
KramerLI.Advancement of dermal icterus in the jaundiced newborn. Am J Dis Child1969;118: 454–8.
34.
Managing newborn problems: A guide for doctors, nurses, and midwives.Geneva: World Health Organization; 2003.
35.
MishraS, ChawlaD, AgarwalR.Comparison of transcutaneous bilirubinometry and visual assessment of level of jaundice in term and near-term neonates of deciding the need for blood sampling: A randomized trial and economic evaluation. In: XXVII Annual conference of National Neonatology Forum of India; 2007; Pune; 2007.
36.
KumarR, NarangA, KumarP, GarewalG.Phenobarbitone prophylaxis for neonatal jaundice in babies with birth weight 1000–1499 grams. Indian Pediatr2002;39: 945–51.
37.
ChawlaD, ParmarV.Phenobarbitone for prevention and treatment of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in preterm neonates: A systematic review and metaanalysis. Indian Pediatr2009:PII:S097475590800485–1.
38.
AryaVB, AgarwalR, PaulVK, DeorariAK.Efficacy of oral phenobarbitone in term “at risk” neonates in decreasing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: a randomized double-blinded, placebo controlled trial. Indian Pediatr2004;41: 327–32.
39.
MurkiS, DuttaS, NarangA, SarkarU, GarewalG.A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial of prophylactic oral phenobarbital to reduce the need for phototherapy in G6PD-deficient neonates. J Perinatol2005;25: 325–30.
40.
MehtaS, KumarP, NarangA.A randomized controlled trial of fluid supplementation in term neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia. J Pediatr2005;147: 781–5.
41.
AlcockGS, LileyH.Immunoglobulin infusion for isoimmune haemolytic jaundice in neonates. Cochrane Database Syst Rev2002:CD003313.
42.
GirishG, ChawlaD, AgarwalR, PaulVK, DeorariAK.Efficacy of two dose regimes of intravenous immunoglobulin in Rh hemolytic disease of newborn— a randomized controlled trial. Indian Pediatr2008;45: 653–9.
43.
DeorariAK, SinghM, AhujaGK. One year outcome of babies with severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and reversible abnormality in brainstem auditory evoked responses. Indian Pediatr1994;31: 915–21.