Word parts
What it means
In newborns with high bilirubinbil-ih-ROO-binA yellow pigment made when old red blood cells break down, which the liver clears into bile.Full entry (jaundice), light shone on the skin changes bilirubin into a form the body can pass in urine and stool. The baby lies under lights or on a light blanket wearing only a diaper. Light treatment is also used for some skin diseases such as psoriasis, and bright light therapy is used for seasonal depression.
For the nurse
Cover the newborn's eyes with shields, expose as much skin as possible, and turn the baby often. Check temperature, watch for dehydration and loose green stools, and do not put lotion on the skin. Take the baby out for feeds as ordered.
At a glance
| Spanish | fototerapia |
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Related terms
jaundice
Yellow color of the skin, the whites of the eyes and other tissues from too much bilirubin in the blood.
bilirubin
A yellow pigment made when old red blood cells break down, which the liver clears into bile.
hyperbilirubinemia
Too much bilirubin, a yellow waste product of old red blood cells, in the blood.