الفهرس 
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Abstract
Jaundice is one of the most common and annoying problems that occur in the newborn. Jaundice is observed during the first week of life in approximately 60% of term neonates and 80% of preterm neonates.
Although most jaundiced neonates recover without any complications, there is always a risk of unconjugated bilirubin encephalopathy during the period of hyperbilirubinemia.
Phototherapy is now the preferred method for treatment of neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia because of being non-invasive, convenient, reliable to use and inexpensive.
Phototherapy uses visible light energy to change the shape and structure of bilirubin, converting it to molecules that can be excreted even when normal conjugation is deficient. Light provides an infusion of discrete photons of energy, Absorption of these photons by bilirubin molecules in the skin leads to a therapeutic effect in much the same way as binding of drug molecules to a receptor has a desired effect.
Exchange transfusion is the second line of treatment when phototherapy failed to control serum bilirubin levels.
Our study was done on 70 cases of full term healthy neonates with unconjugated non-hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia and they were divided into two groups as; 35 babies were randomized to phototherapy alone & 35 babies were randomized to phototherapy and oil massage.
Neonates with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia who show evidence of hemolysis or required exchange transfusion in their management were excluded from our study. Also neonates who had complications as evidence of sepsis, respiratory distress or hypoxia were excluded. Premature neonates were also excluded from our study.
Data was collected, tabulated and statistically analyzed.
We found that significant reduction in bilirubin levels in group treated by oil massage and phototherapy than group treated by phototherapy alone as (P value < 0.001).
The mean stool frequency was higher in group treated by massage and phototherapy than group treated by phototherapy alone, as massage therapy encourage the neonate to pass more meconium which contains bilirubin leading to significant decrease in bilirubin levels in group treated by oil massage and phototherapy than group treated by phototherapy alone as (P value < 0.001).
In our study we found that no significant differences between the two groups regarding admission weight and weight on days 2& 3, however babies on group B (with oil massage) had significantly higher weight on day 4 (p = 0.02).
Our study also revealed that the duration of phototherapy and length of hospital stay was shorter in group treated by oil massage and phototherapy than group treated by phototherapy alone (P value < 0.001).