Hand-touch Method for Detection of Neonatal Hypothermia in Nepal

Tuitui, Roshani; Suwal, Satya Narayan; Shrestha, Sarala

doi:10.1093/tropej/fmq084

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Studies in India and Nepal have shown human touch to be reasonably reliable for the detection of hypothermia when health workers were trained for these investigations. [45][46][47][48][49] Mothers, however, seem to have a far lower sensitivity than health workers. Only 24% of mothers in India were able to correctly identify hypothermia.…”

Section: Diagnosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal protection of the newborn in resource-limited environments

2012

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Appropriate thermal protection of the newborn prevents hypothermia and its associated burden of morbidity and mortality. Yet, current global birth practices tend to not adequately address this challenge. Here, we discuss the pathophysiology of hypothermia in the newborn, its prevention and therapeutic options with particular attention to resource-limited environments. Newborns are equipped with sophisticated mechanisms of body temperature regulation. Neonatal thermoregulation is a critical function for newborn survival, regulated in the hypothalamus and mediated by endocrine pathways. Hypothermia activates cellular metabolism through shivering and nonshivering thermogenesis. In newborns, optimal temperature ranges are narrow and thermoregulatory mechanisms easily overwhelmed, particularly in premature and low-birth weight infants. Hyperthermia most commonly is associated with dehydration and potentially sepsis. The lack of thermal protection promptly leads to hypothermia, which is associated with detrimental metabolic and other pathophysiological processes. Simple thermal protection strategies are feasible at community and institutional levels in resource-limited environments. Appropriate interventions include skin-to-skin care, breastfeeding and protective clothing or devices. Due to poor provider training and limited awareness of the problem, appropriate thermal care of the newborn is often neglected in many settings. Education and appropriate devices might foster improved hypothermia management through mothers, birth attendants and health care workers. Integration of relatively simple thermal protection interventions into existing mother and child health programs can effectively prevent newborn hypothermia even in resource-limited environments.

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Section: Diagnosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal protection of the newborn in resource-limited environments

2012

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“…Finally, Tuitui et al 57 conducted a study to examine the diagnostic validity of hand-touch method against axillary mercury thermometer and tympanic thermometer for detecting neonatal hypothermia among 100 full-term neonates, delivered within 24 h in a hospital in Nepal. The sensitivity and specificity of the hand-touch method for detection of neonatal hypothermia were 95.6% and 70.1% against axillary mercury thermometer and 76.6% and 83% against the tympanic thermometer, respectively.…”

Section: A Practical Monitoring Methods To Detect Cold Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early detection of cold stress to prevent hypothermia: A narrative review

et al. 2023

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Temperature monitoring is essential for assessing neonates and providing appropriate neonatal thermal care. Thermoneutrality is defined as the environmental temperature range within which the oxygen and metabolic consumptions are minimum to maintain normal body temperature. When neonates are in an environment below thermoneutral temperature, they respond by vasoconstriction to minimise heat losses, followed by a rise in metabolic rate to increase heat production. This condition, physiologically termed cold stress, usually occurs before hypothermia. In addition to standard axillary or rectal temperature monitoring by a thermometer, cold stress can be detected by monitoring peripheral hand or foot temperature, even by hand-touch. However, this simple method remains undervalued and generally recommended only as a second and lesser choice in clinical practice. This review presents the concepts of thermoneutrality and cold stress and highlights the importance of early detection of cold stress before hypothermia occurs. The authors suggest systematic clinical determination of hand and foot temperatures by hand-touch for early detection of physiological cold stress, in addition to monitoring core temperature for detection of established hypothermia, particularly in low-resource settings.

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Temperature monitoring in the OR – State of the art and a 2012 update

Kimberger

2013

Trends in Anaesthesia and Critical Care

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Hand-touch Method for Detection of Neonatal Hypothermia in Nepal

Cited by 5 publications

References 10 publications

Thermal protection of the newborn in resource-limited environments

Thermal protection of the newborn in resource-limited environments

Early detection of cold stress to prevent hypothermia: A narrative review

Temperature monitoring in the OR – State of the art and a 2012 update

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