pediatrics
Hypothermia in Neonates
Introduction
Hypothermia is defined by the World Health Organization as a core temperature<36.5° C (97.7° F). In preterm infants, hypothermia increases morbidity and mortality. Hypothermia may be purely environmental or represent intercurrent illness (eg, sepsis). Maintaining an appropriate environmental temperature in the delivery room or operating room is critical in preventing neonatal hypothermia. Hypothermic infants should be rewarmed, and any underlying condition must be diagnosed and treated. Normal rectal temperature in term and preterm infants is 36.5 to 37.5° C. Although hypothermia is a core temperature < 36.5° C, there may be cold stress at higher temperatures whenever heat loss requires an increase in metabolic heat production. 