Filtered Sunlight Phototherapy to Treat Significant Jaundice: Safety and Efficacy in Neonates

At present, much of sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria and other resource-limited countries, are without ready access to CPT, due to factors including the lack of PT devices, which are expensive and require consistent electric power to operate. NHB is a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, but preventable when appropriate treatment is initiated. We have shown that FS-PT is safe and efficacious for the treatment of mild-moderate NHB. The major goal of this study is to demonstrate that FS-PT is efficacious for the treatment of significant/severe NHB, generally defined as TB of ≥12-14mg/dL (but more specially as defined as needing phototherapy per American Academy of Pediatric 2004 guidelines). This arm was done at 1 site in Nigeria (in Ogbomoso). The rationale for conducting the study is that in Nigeria, and other countries that cannot afford effective commercial light devices and/or have no reliable electric power to operate them, filtered sunlight phototherapy might offer a safe and effective treatment for neonatal jaundice.