Neonatal hypothermia detection by ThermoSpot in Indian urban slum dwellings.
OBJECTIVE
To look at the performance of ThermoSpot liquid crystal thermometry in detecting neonatal hypothermia.


METHODS
A comparison was made between skin temperatures taken by ThermoSpot and axillary temperatures taken by digital electric thermometry. Non-medically trained local volunteers performed daily paired recordings on infants on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of life.


METHODS
This is a non-hospital based study set in the homes of neonates in an underprivileged urban slum community in the developing world.


METHODS



METHODS
babies born at home.


METHODS
hospital admission; parental refusal.


METHODS
The ThermoSpot was stuck to the neonate's abdomen over the liver area on day 1 and removed on day 7.


METHODS
Fixed test properties of ThermoSpot.


RESULTS
Over 180 paired observations, the fixed test properties of ThermoSpot in the detection of hypothermia were: sensitivity 88%; specificity 97%; positive likelihood ratio 29; negative likelihood ratio 0.13.


CONCLUSIONS
ThermoSpot performed well when used by non-medically trained volunteers for the detection of neonatal hypothermia in the homes of an urban slum community.
Green
D A
DA
St Stephens Hospital, Tis Hazari, Delhi 110054, India. davidhafiz@doctors.org.uk
Kumar
A
A
Khanna
R
R
D001365:Axilla; D001831:Body Temperature; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007194:India; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D050866:Liquid Crystals; D008297:Male; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013821:Thermometers; D014504:Urban Health