Phototherapy is one of the most effective and quietly revolutionary treatments in public health. Every year, hundreds of thousands of newborns around the world develop severe jaundice and for most, a simple blue light can prevent irreversible brain damage or even death. But access to that light isn’t universal.
In this episode, we explore the science of jaundice and bilirubin, why newborns are particularly vulnerable, describe the mechanism by which blue-green light helps clear toxic levels from the body, and the global inequality in access to this life-saving intervention. We also highlight public health wins, like the innovative Crib A’Glow device and impactful interventions in countries like Myanmar.
From the history of phototherapy’s discovery in 1950s England to the modern challenges faced in low-resource settings, this episode brings you deep into the intersection of neonatal care, technology, and global health.
Citations:Impact of Universal Bilirubin Screening on Severe Hyperbilirubinemia and Phototherapy Use - PMCFAQs About Phototherapy | Newborn Nursery | Stanford MedicineNeonatal hyperbilirubinaemia: a global perspective - The Lancet Child & Adolescent HealthNeonatal jaundice: phototherapy - PMCBurden of severe neonatal jaundice: a systematic review and meta-analysis | BMJ Paediatrics OpenNeonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: Evaluation and Treatment | AAFPAcceptability and operational feasibility of community health worker-led home phototherapy treatment for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in rural Bangladesh | BMC Pediatrics | Full TextGlobal Prevalence of Severe Neonatal Jaundice among Hospital Admissions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - PMC
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The information in this episode of Transmissible: A Public Health Podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.
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