Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: October-December | Volume: 4 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 168-172
Prevalence of Hypothermia among Low Birth Weight Neonates in a Tertiary Care Center in India
Vasanthan Tanigasalam1, B. Vishnu Bhat1, B. Adhisivam2, Bharathi Balachander1, Harichandra Kumar2
1Department of Neonatology, 2Department of Biostatistics,
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, India;
ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the incidence of hypothermia in low birth weight neonates (weighing <2000g) using a novel device that continuously monitors temperature and alerts when there is hypothermia. To compare the incidence of hypothermia among different gestational age and weight categories.
Methods: This descriptive study was done in the step-down nursery of a tertiary care hospital in India. Low birth weight neonates were monitored for hypothermia using a novel device (Bempu TempWatch) for a period of 24 hours. The device displayed blue color when the neonate was normothermic and alarmed with orange light when the neonate was hypothermic. A digital axillary thermometer was used to crosscheck the temperature alarm of the device.
Results: A total of n=418 neonates were screened for hypothermia. Hypothermia was observed at least once in 24 hours among 69.8%, 64.7%, and 45.7% of very preterm, moderately preterm, and term neonates respectively and it was noted in 70.4%, and 58.5% of very low birth weight and low birth weight neonates.
Conclusion: Incidence of hypothermia was higher among preterm and low birth weight babies but also in low birth weight term babies, indicating that round the clock monitoring is essential for all babies in the step-down nursery. Hence, a continuous monitoring device like TempWatch may be beneficial in the early detection of hypothermia.
Keywords: Anemia, Hemoglobin, Iron, Dietary factors, Drabkin method, Junk foods