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Objective To investigate the effect of intensive phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia on cellular immune function and short-term immune-related adverse effects. Methods Totally 180 infants with hyperbilirubinemia were treated with different light intensity, the efficacy, cellular immune function and immune adverse effects were followed up for six months after discharge. Results After phototherapy, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) in both groups were decreased and CD4+ (%) and CD4+/CD8+ were increased than that before phototherapy. The decrease rate of total bilirubin in the intensive phototherapy group was significantly faster than that in the conventional phototherapy group, at the same time, the total duration of phototherapy and hospital stay were significantly shorter than that in the conventional phototherapy group (P＜0.05). No statistical significance in the incidence of diarrhea, rash, fever and hypo-calcemia during hospitalization and no immune-related adverse effects in 6 months after discharge were recorded. Conclusions Compared with conventional phototherapy, intensive phototherapy reduces serum bilirubin level more quickly and shorten the duration of phototherapy and hospital stay. No common adverse effects nor immune-related adverse effects are recorded during hospitalization and the period of six months after discharge.