Which newborn condition is commonly treated with phototherapy?

• A. Hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice)
• B. Hypoglycemia
• C. Respiratory distress syndrome
• D. Neonatal sepsis

Answer: (A)

Phototherapy is used to treat newborn hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice). When bilirubin accumulates in a newborn, it can deposit in brain tissue and cause serious damage; phototherapy helps prevent this. The blue light converts bilirubin into water-soluble forms that can be excreted in urine and bile without needing further processing by the liver, lowering bilirubin levels. This treatment is guided by the infant’s age in hours and specific risk factors, and it’s most effective for unconjugated bilirubin in the first days of life. It’s not used for hypoglycemia, respiratory distress syndrome, or neonatal sepsis, which require glucose supplementation, respiratory support or surfactant, and antibiotics, respectively.