Liquid crystal thermometry for early detection of hypothermia in newborns in neonatology ward, Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta

  • Tunjung Wibowo
  • Dwikisworo Setyowireni
  • A. Samik Wahab
Keywords: liquid crystal thermometry, hypothermia, newborn, digital termometer

Abstract

Background Hypothermia in neonates increases the risk of
mortality and morbidity such as infection, coagulation disorders,
acidosis and hyaline membrane disease. Mercury thermometer is
commonly used to detect hypothermia in newborns, but it has it
is not ecological acceptable, difficult to be sterilized, easily broken,
difficult to find in some developing countries and needs some
training before use. A simple, effective and easily used tool for
detection of hypothermia in newborns is needed.
Objective To evaluate the ability of liquid crystal thermometry
(LCT) in early detection of newborn hypothermia.
Methods This study was conducted in the neonatology ward,
Sardjito Hospital. The LCT was placed on the abdominal wall.
Digital thermometer measurement and LCT observation were
conducted three times in each patient. LCT’s color and body
temperature were documented by using a pre-coded questionnaire.
Results A total of 268 newborns met the inclusion and exclusion
criteria. The pilot study showed that the inter-observer agreement
of LCT was 0.75. Positive likelihood ratio during three
measurements were 22.9 (95%CI 11.47;45.78), 18.97 (95%CI
9.43;38.16) and 22.8 (95%CI 11.34;45.83) respectively.
Conclusion LCT exhibits good accuracy and is safe to diagnose
hypothermia in newborn.

Author Biographies

Tunjung Wibowo
Department of Child Health, Medical School, Gadjah Mada
University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Dwikisworo Setyowireni
Department of Child Health, Medical School, Gadjah Mada
University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
A. Samik Wahab
Department of Child Health, Medical School, Gadjah Mada
University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

References

1. World Health Organization. Thermal control of the newborn:
a practical guide. Maternal health and safe motherhood
program. Geneva: WHO;1993.
2. Ellis M, Manandhar N, Shakya U, Manandhar DS, Fawdry
A, Costello AML. Postnatal hypothermia and cold stress
among newborn infants in Nepal monitored by contimous
ambulatory recording. Arch Dis Child 1996;75:F42-5.
3. Manandhar N, Ellis M, Manandhar DS, Morley D, Costello
AM de L. Liquid crystal thermometry for the detection of
neonatal hypothermia in Nepal. J of Trop Pediatr 1998;44:15-
7.
4. Kambarami R, chidede O, Pereira N. ThermoSpot in detection
of neonatal hypothermia. Ann of Trop Pediatr 2002;22:219-
23.
5. Gunawijaya E, Hamid A. Changes in temperature of newborn
babies bathed immediately after birth. Med J Indones
2003;12:73-9.
6. Christensson K, ransjo-Arvidson AB, Kakoma C, Lungu F,
Darkwah G, Chikamata D, et al. Midwifery care routines and
prevention of heat loss in the newborn: a study in Zambia.
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 1988;34:208-12.
7. Kumar K, Aggarwal AK. Body temperature of home delivered
newborns in north India. Trop Doct 1998;28:134-6.
8. Christensson K, Bhat GJ, Eriksson B, Shilalukey-Ngoma MP,
Sterky G. The effect of routine hospital care on the health of
hypothermic newborn infants in Zambia. J of Trop Pediatr
1995;41:210-4.
9. Johanson RB, Spencer SA, Rolfe P, Jnes P, Malla DS. Effect
of post-delivery care on neonatal body temperatur. Acta
Pediatr 1992;81:859-63.
10. Cheah FC and Boo NY. Risk factors associated with neonatal
hypothermia during cleaning of newborn infants in labour
rooms. J of Trop Pediatr 2000;46:46-51.
11. Zeal JDB. ThermoSpot non-invasive hypothermia indicator
for neonates. Camborne Consultants. Proposal 1999.
12. Loughead MK, Laughead JL, Reinhart MJ. Incidence and
physiologic characteristics of hypothermia in the very low
birth wieght infant. Pediatr Nurs 1997;23:11-5.
13. Deeks JJ. Systematic reviews in health care: systematic
reviews of evaluations of diagnostic and screening test. BMJ
2005;323:157-62.
14. Valadez JJ, Elmore-Meegan, Morley D. Comparing liquid
crystal thermometer readings and mercury thermometer
readings of infants and children in traditional African setting.
Implication for community-based health. Trop Geogr Med
1995;47:130-3.
15. Morley D, Blumenthal I. A new neonatal hypothermia
indicator. The Lancet 2000;355:659-60.
Published
2008-02-29
How to Cite
1.
Wibowo T, Setyowireni D, Wahab A. Liquid crystal thermometry for early detection of hypothermia in newborns in neonatology ward, Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta. PI [Internet]. 29Feb.2008 [cited 23Dec.2024];48(1):5-. Available from: https://paediatricaindonesiana.org/index.php/paediatrica-indonesiana/article/view/443
Section
Articles
Received 2016-09-04
Accepted 2016-09-04
Published 2008-02-29