Effects of Clear Topical Ointment on Transepidermal Water Loss in Jaundiced Pretrem Infants Receiving Phototherapy

SIRIWA N WANANUKUL, M.D.*, PRAMOTE PRAISUWANNA, M.D.*, KRIDAKORN KESORNCAM, M.D.*

Affiliation : * Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok I 0330, Thailand.

AbstractThirty jaundiced preterm infants, gestational age 5 34 weeks and postnatal age 5 7 days, receiving conventional phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia of prematurity in incubators were in cluded. 1.5 ml of clear topical ointment was applied on the right side of the trunk and extre mities while the left side was used as control. Data collection included transepidermal water loss (TEWL), ambient temperature and ambient humidity, before and at 30 minutes, 4-6 hours after application of the ointment during phototherapy. The measurements were executed both the right and left side in 3 positions; upper arm, back, lower leg. TEWL was reduced by 29 per cent (P value < 0.002) and 26 per cent (P value < 0.011) at 30 minutes and 4-6 hours after the applica tion of clear topical ointment, respectively. Ambient temperature and humidity were not signifi cantly different (P value > 0.18). We concluded that application of clear topical ointment on the skin of jaundiced preterm infants receiving conventional phototherapy in incubators reduced TEWL significantly.

Keywords : Transepidermal Water Loss, Phototherapy, Preterm Infant, Clear Topical Ointment

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