Essay On Hypothermia

Effectiveness of PNI regarding 'warm chain' in terms of knowledge and practice among staff nurses working in obstetrical and neonatal units in Selected Hospitals at Meerut.

Abstract

A newborn or neonate, is a child under 28 days of age. Hypothermia during the newborn period is widely regarded as a major contributory cause of significant morbidity in developing countries and, at its extreme, mortality1

Hypothermia during the newborn period is widely regarded as a major contributory cause of significant morbidity in developing countries and, at its extreme, mortality2.

High prevalence of hypothermia has been reported from countries with the highest burden of neonatal mortality, where hypothermia is increasingly gaining attention and significance

Progressive reduction in body temperature leads to adverse clinical effects ranging from mild metabolic stress to death4.

At birth, the newly born infant is suddenly exposed to a wet and cold environment and responds by increasing heat production and attempts to conserve heat by cutaneous vasoconstriction. These responses begin within a matter of minutes and can persist for many hours5. In the absence of thermal protection, the newborn may lose considerable heat, resulting in a drop of the infant's body temperature at a rate of 0.2 to 1.0 °C min−1. Within the first minutes following birth, skin temperature of the baby typically falls by 3 to 4 °C6, 7

There are several approaches and devices for prevention and treatment of newborn hypothermia such as warming mattresses, plastic wraps, bags, and caps.8, Many neonatal deaths, particularly those related to severe infections and prematurity, are preventable with relatively easy interventions to keep babies