Phototherapy and migraines

Specialties NICU

Published

:idea: In the past week we have had 4 nurses go off or complain of suddenly getting a migraine headache with nausea and vomiting while looking after babies under phototherapy. I was wondering if any one else has had similar experiences or know of a link between phototherapy and migraine headaches, if so what has been done about this issue in your unit. I need some input to take to our unit manager for changes to be made, e.g. wearing coloured glasses while looking after these little ones. Thank you so much for any input. :p
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Are they the blue lights? Get some amber tinted sunglasses. I have my own personal pair, because when I had pts under that blue photo, it would give me a killer migraine!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I can get a headache from them, but not that bad! I agree about the sunglasses, that helps. I won't let moms sit @ the bedside and gaze lovingly @ their baby w/o sunglasses.

Maybe the lights are a bit too strong? Have you measured light strength w/the bili meter gadget? Just a thought.

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Thank you for the responses, I will most certainly look into the tinted sunglasses.....

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Anecdotally, I remember this as a common complaint from my NICU days.

I've been out of NICU for quite awhile, but I thought the blue lights went the way of the dinosaurs. Aren't spot lights used now, with or without bili blankets?

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Varies w/the facility and its resources. We have the Olympic photo Rx "bank" box--I think I could find Flo Nightingale's initials on the bottom if I looked hard enough....

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

When I'm doing vitals/cares, I switch them off. It doesn't take that long and it gives the babies a chance to look around anyway.

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We use an LED light bank from Natus

http://www.natus.com/index.cfm?page=products_1&crid=287

Way more effctive than the white spots IMO. I could turn them off evry time I wanted to look at my pt. But that time adds up and if you have a 48 hour bili of 15, you need all the photo you can get.

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Specializes in NICU.

We tell the nurses that they can use their own sunglasses and we also have some disposable yellow/amber ones that are recommended for use with the blue lights. If they are photosensitive I would have them use them with any photo lights, white or blue.

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