Introduction: Jaundice is observed during first week of life in approximately 60% of term neonates and 80% of preterm neonates. Phototherapy is one of the routine methods for management of hyperbilirubinemia. It can produce adverse effects such as skin rashes, loose stools, hypocalcemia and many other complications. In our study serum calcium level measured 48 hours after phototherapy in study­group and without phototherapy in control­group. Aims: 1) To study effect of phototherapy on serum calcium level. 2) To study symptomatic hypocalcemia after phototherapy. Method: Ninty term babies were included in study, seventy babies in study group and twenty in control group. Study group was selected as babies requiring phototherapy and control group as those not requiring. The study group was managed with phototherapy and not control group. Serum calcium levels measured before and after 48 hours of phototherapy and of control. Result: 50/70 neonates (71%) term babies developed hypocalcemia after photoherapy. No baby from control group developed hypocalcemia. Fifty percent babies of study group had symptomatic hypocalcemia. Conclusion: Neonates requiring phototherapy are at a higher risk of developing hypocalcemia. Therefore, it is suggested that calcium should be given in newborn requiring phototherapy.

Keywords: Phototherapy; Hyperbilirubinemia; Hypocalcemia; Jaundice.