Premature children need our help

Jaundice of preterm infants is observed in almost every child who was born earlier than the term. It is a result of an underdeveloped enzyme system that is incapable of coping with a large amount of bilirubin (yellow pigment). Evil bilirubin can lead to complications in baby's liver, so the treatment has to be quick and effective. The purpose of our project is to help doctors of the Ivano-Frankivsk regional perinatal center to save babies from jaundice in the department of newborns. Jaundice during the neonatal period is still an actual problem of neonatology.

One of the most frequent metabolic disorders detected in the newborn period is an increase in serum bilirubin concentration, accompanied by jaundice. The condition occurs in about half of the term and most preterm infants. Pathological factors that increase the potential danger of bilirubin include conditions that are especially often observed in premature infants: morphofunctional immaturity, anemia, severe infection, perinatal brain damage, hypothermia, hypoalbuminemia, and acidosis. Previously, glucose intravenously, choleretic preparations, ascorbic acid, and other drugs were used to eliminate excess bilirubin. But such treatment was found to be inadequate. Now there are new, non-pharmacological methods, in which jaundice of newborns is treated more effectively and at the same time more safely.

Phototherapy (light treatment) is an effective treatment of jaundice in children using a lamp that reduces the amount of dangerous pigment in the blood quickly and painlessly (the course of therapy includes several stages and lasts an average of 96 hours). Under the influence of the light of a special ultraviolet lamp, bilirubin is transformed into a non-hazardous derivative - lumirubin, which naturally leaves the body through the excretory system. It is necessary to purchase a modern phototherapy lamp for the department of newborns of Ivano-Frankivsk regional perinatal center so that its' small patients could have a chance for painless treatment of malignant bilirubin.

The Charitable Medical Ball, which is organized by Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, joined the project and was held on June 3 in the restaurant-museum "Francishek Romashkan". During the ball, an auction took place, where interested people could buy collectibles and interesting works of art created by students and teachers of the university. The auction raised more than 15 000 UAH, which were donated to this project, which will help newborn children overcome jaundice.