Neurobehavior of term neonates with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

OBJECTIVE: To find the effect of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia on neurobehavior of term infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was undertaken in the neonatal unit of our tertiary care hospital. Term neonates who developed jaundice with serum bilirubin value of above 15 mg/dl within 1(st) week of life were enrolled in the study. Peak total serum bilirubin (PSB) levels of cases were recorded. Age and sex matched normal controls were assigned to every case. Both the groups were assessed by Brazelton′s neurobehavioral assessment scale (NBAS) and the scores of the individual clusters were compared. RESULTS: Habituation, range of state, autonomic regulation and regulation of state clusters were significantly altered in the case group, while motor organization cluster was mainly affected in neonates with severe jaundice (PSB > 25 mg/dl). No differences were noted in the reflex and orientation NBAS clusters. CONCLUSION: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia causes definite alteration in the neonatal neurobehavior.