Role of Probiotics in Neonates with Hyperbilirubinemia Receiving Phototherapy

Y Study Objectives: To compare the mean duration of phototherapy in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia receiving phototherapy with vs. without probiotics. Study Design and Settings: It was a randomized controlled trial carried at Department of Pediatrics, DHQ Hospital Kasur from Jan 2021 to June 2021. Patients and Methods: The present research involved 94 neonates of both genders aged between 2 to 28 days of life diagnosed of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (serum bilirubin level >= 15mg/dL and direct bilirubin level <= 1.5 mg/dL). These neonates were allocated into two groups randomly. Neonates in Group-I were given probiotics along with conventional treatment of phototherapy whereas neonates in Group-II received conventional phototherapy alone. Study outcome was described in terms of mean duration of phototherapy (phototherapy was stopped when serum bilirubin level was less than 10 mg/dl during the first week and less than 11 mg/dl after the first week) which was recorded and compared between the groups. An informed written consent was taken from parents of every neonate. Results of the Study: The mean age of the neonates was 6.54 +/- 4.96 days while the mean gestational age was 37.31 +/- 2.04 weeks. There were 55 (58.5%) baby boys and 39 (41.5%) baby girls with a boys to girls ratio of 1.4:1. The mean weight of the neonates was 2.89 +/- 0.49 Kg while the mean serum bilirubin level upon admission was 16.73 +/- 1.19 mg/dl. The mean duration of phototherapy was significantly shorter in neonates receiving probiotics along with phototherapy as compared to phototherapy alone (3.13 +/- 0.92 vs. 3.81 +/- 1.12 days; p=0.002). Similar significant difference was observed across various subgroups based on age, gender, gestational age, weight and serum bilirubin level upon admission. Conclusion: Addition of probiotics to conventional practice of phototherapy alone in jaundiced neonates was found to hasten the recovery evident from significant reduction in the mean duration of phototherapy advocating its routine use in future practice.