title: [Thermal comfort in preterm babies. Infra-red colour thermography findings. Preliminary report].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the thermal comfort of clinically stable neonates with normal body temperature by using infra-red colour thermography (THY).
  
  
  METHODS
  32 babies were enrolled in the study. The axillary temperature was maintained in the range 36.6-37.0 degrees C and the air temperature in the incubator remained within the neutral range according to Hey and Katz. Temperature distribution was measured by THY The abdomen and foot skin temperature, as well as the difference between both parameters were recorded. Thermal comfort for THY was defined as a difference between core and peripheral temperatures (Deltat) in the range of 1 to 2 degrees C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thermal comfort defined according to THY criterion was fulfilled only in 12 patients (37.5%). We found Deltat< 1 degree C in 14 patients (43.8%), and Deltat>2 degrees C in 6 patients (6.3%). Thermal comfort defined by standard care varied from founded by THY p<0.0001. High foot temperature >or=35.0 degrees C in THY was found as a determinant for Deltat< 10 degrees C. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found gestational age <30 weeks to be connected with the risk of hyperthermia [odds ratio 8.4 (95% Cl 1.2-61.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that there is a risk for hyperthermia in prenaturely, immature babies when nursed in standard neutral temperature. Infra-red colour thermography gives additional information which can be used for further studies on determination of optimal thermal comfort in newborn.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Intensywnej Terapii i Patologii Noworodka, Górnoslaskie Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka, Katowice. eswietlinska@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Musialik-Swietlińska
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wojaczyńska-Stanek
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swietliński
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koprowski
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krawczyk
authors.forename: Klaudiusz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bober
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007186:Incubators, Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011044:Poland; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*