TEMPERATURE MONITORING
USING THERMOSPOT IN NEWBORNS
Dr Pejaver Ranjan K, Dr Nisarga R, Dr Gowda B
Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics,
Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, India
Objective: To study body temperature in newborn
babies (birth weight less than 2 kgs) and detect hypothermia.
Methods: Twenty newborn babies (birth weight less
than 2 kgs) admitted to postnatal ward of a large hospital was studied.
A device, liquid crystal
temperature indicator called ThermoSpot (Hallcrest, Glenview, IL, USA)
which is a sticky black disc (12mm in diameter) was placed on the
neck/suprasternal region. Provided that the newborn baby¡¯s temperature is
35.5degrees Celsius or more, the black disc changes to green smiling face.
If, however the temperature falls below 35.5 degrees celsius the disc
reverts back to black and the mother/carer should immediately initiate
warming. Rectal temperature was measured using a low-reading glass mercury
thermometer thrice a day for five days and compared with the observed
appearances of the disc. All rectal temperatures were measured by the same
two persons. The study was explained to each mother and verbal consent was
taken.
Results: Totally 300 routine readings were made.
Amongst these there was only one occasion when there was hypothermia
recorded on thermometer and ThermoSpot had just turned black. Remaining 299
readings were within range (35.5-37.5) and ThermoSpot was green with
smiling face. There were 13 indications of hypothermia (black face) in between
these routine recordings. 10 of them were recorded as low even on rectal
thermometer, and three of these showed normal recording (>35.5 degrees
C) on rectal thermometer. All twenty mothers had understood the ThermoSpot.
Conclusions: Thermospot was in
agreement with rectal temperature in 310 out of 313 measurements. It
correctly identified hypothermia in every case. ThermoSpot is a low-cost,
simple, accurate device allowing continuos thermal monitoring of low birth
weight infants, especially in resource poor setting. Mothers quickly
understood the device and responded appropriately.