Infant jaundice is a yellow discoloration in a newborn baby’s skin and eyes. Infant jaundice occurs because the baby’s blood contains an excess of bilirubin, a yellow-colored pigment of red blood cells. The common treatment for Jaundice is phototherapy, is the process of using light to eliminate bilirubin in the blood. Treatment is often very expensive and not practical in developing countries.
A team of researchers working in Nigeria have developed an alternative. They have developed a plastic film that filters natural light, only allowing through wavelengths of light that can treat jaundice. Infants just sit under a canopy made of this plastic film and treatments effectiveness is similar to phototherapy treatment.
This plastic film only costs 50 cents to $1.50 per square foot so it is extremely affordable for everyone and do not require electricity.
The researchers are starting a public health campaign to spread the word!