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Irradiance Readings of Phototherapy Equipment: Nigeria

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Abstract

Phototherapy devices (n = 63) at twelve nurseries in Nigeria were evaluated. Irradiance was measured using the BiliBlanket Meter II. Irradiance readings ranged from 0.5 to 18.4 μW/cm2/nm; phototherapy units varied widely, including locally made units, reconditioned machines, and modern equipment. Imported “intact” machines with all blue bulbs had higher irradiance readings than locally made devices using primarily daylight bulbs (2.5–18.4 μW/cm2/nm vs 0.5–4.2 μW/cm2/nm). The distance between infant and phototherapy units ranged from 45 to 60 cm, far exceeding the recommended distance of about 10 cm. Only 6% of the machines provided irradiance of >10 μW/cm2/nm. None delivered intensive phototherapy (irradiance ≥ 30 μW/cm2/nm). Phototherapy devices in developing countries should be assessed for irradiance, and the infant be placed at a distance of about 10 cm from the device. Phototherapy devices with adequate irradiance would reduce the need for exchange blood transfusion and the burden of acute bilirubin encephalopathy in developing countries.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Ohmeda Medical GE Healthcare (Fairfield, CT, U.S.A.) for donating the BiliBlanket Meter II, without which this research would not have been possible. We also wish to thank Hendrick Vreman. PhD and Mr Ronald Wong, BS for their contributions to this manuscript.

Contributions

OJA; suggested the need for the study, collection analysis of the data and the write-up, AOJ; data collection and analysis FFF; data collection and analysis, STM; significant editing and writing.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Role of Funding Source

OJA, AOJ, FFF had no role of funding source.STM received funding from the University of Minnesota.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

    Joshua Aderinsola Owa

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria

    Olusegun Joseph Adebami & Folorunso Francis Fadero

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Tina Marye Slusher

  4. Division of Global Pediatrics, Room 362, Mail Code 1932, 717 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA

    Tina Marye Slusher

Authors
  1. Joshua Aderinsola Owa
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  2. Olusegun Joseph Adebami
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  3. Folorunso Francis Fadero
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  4. Tina Marye Slusher
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tina Marye Slusher.

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Owa, J.A., Adebami, O.J., Fadero, F.F. et al. Irradiance Readings of Phototherapy Equipment: Nigeria. Indian J Pediatr 78, 996–998 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-011-0382-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-011-0382-4

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