Hypothermia is a condition where the body's core temperature drops below 35°C and can be mild, moderate or severe. Newborns are at risk of heat loss through evaporation, conduction, radiation and convection. Maintaining the baby's temperature through immediate drying, warm blankets and skin-to-skin contact can prevent hypothermia which can cause lethargy, poor feeding and difficulty breathing. Kangaroo mother care is also effective in keeping low birth weight babies warm through constant skin-to-skin contact.

1. HYPOTHERMIA &
THERMAL CONTROL

2. INTRODUCTION
• Conserving the newborns body is an essential goal.
• At birth major cause of heat loss is evaporation radiation conduction and
convention.
• Normal temperature can range from about 97 to 100.3 degree Fahrenheit.
• Body temperature drops below 36.5 °C (97.7 °F). Progressive reduction in body temperature
leads to adverse clinical effects ranging from mild metabolic stress to death

3. OBJECTIVES
• Definition
• Mechanism of Heat Loss
• Concept of Warm Chain
• Temperature Recording
• Clinical Manifestations
• Thermal Control

4. HYPOTHERMIA
Definition :
Hypothermia is the condition of the body where the
core temperature of the body is below 35 degree Celsius.
 Mild- CT 32 to 35 degree Celsius
 Moderate –CT 28 to 32 degree Celsius
 Severe –CT 20 to 28 degree Celsius

5. MECHANISM OF HEAT LOSS
• Newborn loses heat by Evaporation , Conduction , Radiation
and Convection.

6. MECHANISM OF HEAT LOSS
Evaporation :
When water evaporates from the body
surface.
Even without sweating water stills evaporate
insensibly from the skin and lungs .
This causes Heat loss from the body.

7. MECHANISM OF HEAT LOSS
Conduction :
About 3 percent are normally lost from the
body by direct conduction from the surface
of the body to solid objects.

8. MECHANISM OF HEAT LOSS
Radiation :
About 60% of total heat loss is by radiation.
Loss of heat by radiation means loss in the
form of infrared heat rays.
The human body radiates heat rays in all
directions.

9. MECHANISM OF HEAT LOSS
Convection:
About 15% of total loss occurs by the
conduction to the air and then by air
convection away from the body.
The heat must first be conducted to the air
and then carried away by the convection air
currents

10. CONCEPT OF WARM CHAIN

11. TEMPERATURE RECORDING
Axillary temperature
a. Digital Thermometer
b. Mercury Thermometer
Skin Temperature
Human Touch

12. CLINICAL MANIFESTATION
Lethargy
A weak cry
Poor feeding
Breathing difficulty ( Tachypnea ,
Bradypnea)
Periphery discoloration
Weight Loss

13. THERMAL CONTROL
Prevention of Hypothermia In the Delivery room
Warm room (26-28 degree Celsius)
Skin-to-Skin contact
Immediately dry newborn with a dry , sterile and warm towel.
Use another warm towel to wrap the baby in two layers
Ensure head is well covered

14. THERMAL CONTROL
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)
Kangaroo Mother Care is a Technique used
to keep LBW babies warm.
The neonate is held Skin-to-Skin with
mother or any other older adult caretaker.

15. THERMAL CONTROL
KMC Helps In :-
 Better Thermal protection of neonates
 Increasing Milk Production
 Reducing Respiratory tract and Noscomial Infection
 Improving Weight of the Baby
 Reducing Hospital Stay

16. REFERENCES
• Wong‘s essential of Paediatric nursing . Pg no 182
• https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-in/professional/pediatrics/perinatal-
problems/hypothermia-in-neonates
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › pmcWeb resultsNeonatal hypothermia in low-
resource settings - NCBI