Phototherapy with ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of wavelengths between 280 and 320 nm (UV-B) is a safe and effective treatment for a variety of inflammatory skin diseases. In addition to standard broad band UVB, narrow band phototherapy with fluorescent bulbs emitting near monochromatic UV between 310-315 nm has become an important treatment for diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis or v...

Psoriasis is more common among patients with obesity. These patients tend to have more severe psoriasis. Therefore, a higher proportion of them require intensive treatment modalities such as phototherapy, but with not always dose adjustment. We report a phototherapy-induced erythema in patient with psoriasis and obesity treated with narrowband UVB phototherapy. Figure 1: Erythema located on the...

Introduction Although the treatment burden for phototherapy in the outpatient setting is considerable, prescription of home-based phototherapy has not been instigated. Home-based phototherapy seems more patient friendly in terms of avoiding the thrice-weekly hospital visits. So why are most treatments still given in a hospital setting? Is home-based treatment less effective? Are there financial...

In severe and rapidly increasing jaundice, the use of intensive phototherapy provides greater effectiveness and a faster decrement in bilirubin levels compared to conventional phototherapy. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two types of intensive phototherapy: intensive compact fluorescent tube (CFT) and intensive light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy. Forty-three infa...

Our objective was to carry out a prospective, randomized, single-blind study to evaluate whether light emitting diode (LED) phototherapy using a low-cost set of lights is as effective as conventional phototherapy in treating hyperbilirubinemia in neonates. The study included 45 pre-term neonates requiring phototherapy as per American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines; participants were randomize...

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to compare the outcome of two groups of jaundiced newborns randomized to one of the two targets of total serum bilirubin (TSB) for phototherapy discontinuation. DESIGN Infants treated with phototherapy were assigned to two groups: in the 'high-threshold' group, phototherapy was interrupted when TSB decreased to >/=1 mg/dL (17 micromol/L) below the lim...

OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency of hypocalcemia in term neonates with jaundice receiving phototherapy. METHODS This was a cross sectional study conducted at Neonatal intensive care unit, National Institute of Child Health, Karachi from 1st January 2014 to 30th December 2014. A total of 123 term neonates with jaundice of either gender managed by phototherapy were enrolled in the study. Ge...

OBJECTIVE This study compares the use of standard overhead fluorescent phototherapy units with the BiliBlanket a woven fibreoptic pad which delivers high intensity light with no ultraviolet or infrared irradiation in the treatment of jaundice in preterm infants. METHODOLOGY We chose to study infants between 800 and 2500 g, with strict criteria for commencing and ceasing phototherapy. Serum bi...