[Use of phototherapy for in newborns with pathologic jaundice].

An analysis was done of 596 newborns with intermediate hyperbilirubinaemia treated with phototherapy. The causes of hyperbilirubinaemia were determined. The effectiveness of phototherapy was compared in three groups of newborns: in 300 newborns irradiated by continuous method, in 178 newborns irradiated by intermittent method, and in 118 newborns treated with exchange transfusion and phototherapy. It was found that the effectiveness of phototherapy depended on the initial bilirubinaemia and was similar both after continuous irradiation and intermittent phototherapy. In one-third of the newborns subjected to phototherapy side effects were observed mainly in the form of loose stools.