Hypothermia in Infants: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Identifying Hypothermia in Babies

If babies have hypothermia, the first step is to check their body temperature. Usually, there are three ways in which doctors check the temperature – oral, axillary, and rectal.

However, oral temperature checking is not the right method for babies, as infants cannot hold the thermometers under their tongue for a long time. The axillary method, where the thermometer is kept in their armpits, can be used to check the temperature. However, the best method for identifying hypothermia in babies is the rectal method, as it is the most accurate of the three.

Doctors confirm hypothermia in babies when the infants show a rectal temperature of less than 950F or 350C.

Treatment

You must consult a doctor immediately when your baby’s body temperature falls below 950F or 350C. One commonly used solution by experts is therapeutic hypothermia newborn treatment.

Therapeutic hypothermia treatment in infants may include two techniques – Selective Head Cooling (SHC) or Whole Body Cooling (WBC).

• SHC –

Here, infants are made to wear a head cap with cool water. This will make the head and brain cooler than the body. In this technique, the average temperature of the baby’s head is maintained at around 350C.

• WBC –

In this therapeutic hypothermia newborn treatment, a blanket containing warm or cold water is wrapped around the baby’s body to maintain the same temperature uniformly.

Your doctor will decide on the appropriate treatment method after checking your baby’s condition.

Symptoms

The body being cold is one of the first symptoms of hypothermia in infants. Some other symptoms you should watch out for are:

• Extreme fatigue

• Not feeding properly

• Not crying loud enough

• Pale-looking skin

• Difficulty in breathing

What Causes Hypothermia in Babies?

Prevention of hypothermia in newborn is easier when you know what causes this condition. Listed below are the major causes of hypothermia in babies:

• Premature delivery

Babies that get delivered in less than 28 weeks of staying in their mothers’ wombs have the highest risk of being diagnosed with hypothermia.

• Low weight at birth

According to a study, babies that weigh less than 1.5kg at birth have a 30-75% chance of being diagnosed with hypothermia. The small bodies of these babies are not equipped to trap heat inside, resulting in low body temperatures right after birth.

• Babies born in very cold surroundings

Babies need to feel very warm as soon as they are born. Doctors immediately wipe off the cold amniotic liquid from the babies to avoid them feeling cold. Also, babies are given to their mothers to encourage skin-to-skin contact so the infants feel warm. When all of these are not done, or if the babies are born in a cold space without any sources of warmth, they are more prone to hypothermia.

• Hypoglycaemia

In this condition, the blood glucose or blood sugar levels are very low. This can happen when the baby is born with infections or abnormalities. The health condition of the parents can also play a vital role in babies being diagnosed with hypoglycaemia.

• Severe Infections

One of the common reasons for hypothermia in infants is infections. Severe infections such as meningitis (inflammation in the spinal cord) and sepsis (bacterial infection) can cause the body temperatures of infants to drop, resulting in hypothermia.

What to do if your baby has hypothermia?

Sometimes, you may not have access to immediate medical help when you notice a drop in your baby’s body temperature. In that case, you can try out the following remedies as quick fixes:

• Add more layers of clothing for babies.

• Wrap them up comfortably in a single, thick blanket.

• Keep your baby as close as possible to your skin.

However, please remember that these are only temporary solutions to make your baby feel comfortable for a short while until you get professional help.

FAQs

1. Do infants survive hypothermia?

Hypothermia is considered a medical emergency; however, it doesn’t lead to death in most cases, as it can be treated.

2. Why is it important to treat hypothermia in babies quickly?

If left untreated and undiagnosed for a long time, hypothermia in infants can put them at greater risk of severe infections, breathlessness, blood clotting issues, and even death in some rare cases.