title: Influence of variations in the ambient humidity on insensible water loss and thermoneutral environment of low birth weight infants.
abstract: Total evaporative water loss, transepidermal as well as respiratory water loss was measured in 8 infants on day 1, 11 infants from day 2 to 8 and 8 infants after day 8. Measurements were performed at two levels of humidity, either vapor pressure of 16 or 25 mmHg (2 133 or 3 333 Pa). Evaporative water loss was 40% lower at the higher humidity. Neither metabolic rate nor body temperature showed a significant difference between the two levels of humidity. The effect of the change in humidity on the neutral thermal environment was calculated, the neutral temperature being 0.05 degrees C lower when the vapor pressure is increased by 1 mmHg (133.3 Pa). We conclude that a high humidity is of limited value in nursing infants born after 30-40 weeks.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D013696:Temperature; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible