[Phototherapy of newborn infants].

The effect of light treatment on neonates with jaundice was discovered in 1958. Since then, many hundred thousand infants have been treated with light. The presumed mechanism of effect is photo-excitation of bilirubin extravascularly in the skin with the formation of bilirubin isomers which can be excreted in unconjugated form in the bile and photo-oxidation products which can be excreted in the urine. The quantitative relationships have only been partially elucidated. Blue light is the most effective. Green light causes lowering of bilirubin but, on the basis of present knowledge, there is no basis to recommend this as ye. Intermittent phototherapy has limited distribution. If intensive phototherapy is required, double light is effective. No long-term side effects of light treatment have been observed but, during treatment, side effects in the form of diarrhoea, drowsiness and transient exanthemata may occur.