Hypothermia occurs when body temperature is below 36 degrees Celsius, which is considered the ideal temperature, since a newborn’s body surface area is large relative to weight, it can lose heat quickly, especially in cold environments, at risk of hypothermia.
It is important that the baby’s hypothermia is diagnosed and accurate according to the pediatrician’s instructions, to avoid complications such as hypoglycaemia, high blood acidity and respiratory disturbances, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, it is important that newborns stay warm after birth.
- Hypothermia in the baby can be diagnosed from the observation of certain signs and symptoms.
- Such as cold.
- On the ground in the hands and feet.
- Also on the face.
- Arms and legs.
- As well as the change in color of the baby’s skin.
- Which could be more bluish due to the rupture of the caliber of the blood vessels.
- As well as.
- It can also be observed in some cases the reduction of reflexes.
- Vomiting.
- Hypoglycaemias.
- Reduction of the range of orin produced during the day.
In addition to observing signs and symptoms, it is important to measure your baby’s body temperature with a thermometer that should be placed under the wool under the baby’s mouth, considered hypothermia when the temperature drops below 36. 5 degrees Celsius, which can be classified by temperature. As:
It is important to note that when a baby’s body temperature is reduced, it is important to wear it correctly, with the intention of regulating body temperature, in addition to consulting a pediatrician to indicate the best treatment and assess possible complications.
If hypothermia is not identified or treated, the baby may develop life-threatening complications, such as respiratory failure, changes in heart rate, and increased blood acidity.
While observing that the baby is reaching the temperature due to the ideal, strategies should be sought to warm the child, such as appropriate clothes, hats and blankets. Then you have to go to the hospital for the baby to start treatment as before.
The pediatrician should evaluate the baby and identify the cause of the baby’s drop in temperature, which could be related to the cold environment and inadequate clothing, hypoglycemia, other metabolic disorders, neurological problems or heart problems, and even overuse of medications to reduce fever2. or 3 days before.
Treatment involves reheating the baby with appropriate clothing at a pleasant room temperature, and it may also be necessary, in some cases, to place the baby in a direct light incubator to increase body temperature. When low body temperature occurs due to a health problem, it should be resolved before possible.
To prevent the baby from suffering from hypothermia, the baby must be dressed in clothing appropriate to the environment, however, babies are born quickly in the heat, for this reason they should wear long-sleeved clothing, wide pants, a hat and supports; however, they are necessary when the ambient temperature is below 17oC.
However, it is important to be careful not to put too much clothes on your baby and cause overheating, which is also dangerous to children’s health. Therefore, a great way to discover the baby wearing the right clothes and placing the back of the hands on the baby and the baby’s hair If there are signs of sweat, you can remove a cover; And in case the arms or legs are cold, a holster should be added.