Reducing hypothermia in high risk infants: Ongoing challenges in later preterm and term neonates

Optimal thermoregulation remains a significant challenge in neonatal care, particularly for sick preterm infants and those requiring prolonged resuscitation after birth. Despite notable advancements in neonatal resuscitation over the past two decades, maintaining proper body temperature in these vulnerable newborns continues to be a concern. The incidence of hypothermia is notably high, affecting 32-85% of neonates born in hospitals and approximately 11-92% of those born at home.

Dr Mahgul Ghouri
Resident Neonatal Doctor

Dr Imdad Ali
Consultant Neonatologist
imdad.ali1@nhs.net

Newham University Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London

Ghouri M., Ali I. Reducing hypothermia in high risk infants: Ongoing challenges in later preterm and term neonates. Infant 2025; 21(5): 160-63.

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Keywords

thermoregulation; neonatal; resuscitation; hypothermia

Key points

Neonatal hypothermia can have serious health consequences.
Optimal thermoregulation remains a significant challenge in neonatal care.
Studies show that the risk of mortality increases by 28% for every 1°C decrease in body temperature.

Also published in Infant:

VOLUME 17/ISSUE 5, SEPTEMBER 2021

Therapeutic hypothermia in neonates: do we cool outside the entry criteria?

This survey reviews current cooling practice of level 3 neonatal units (NNUs) in the UK with regard to treatment of babies who do not fulfil the existing cooling entry criteria. We collected replies from 78% of tertiary NNUs. More than 80% of tertiary units consider cooling or have cooled babies from at least one of the ‘outside the entry criteria’ categories. An analysis of the replies is discussed.