Heat loss in Nigerian newborn infants in the delivery room

Abstract

Fifty-three vigorous infants were randomly assigned to six different groups (A-F). The babies in groups A and F were not dried and were either exposed wet to room air or warmed under the radiant heater. The other groups of infants were quickly dried and exposed to room air (group B), wrapped with one sterile sheet (group C), wrapped with two towels (group D) or placed under the radiant heater (group E). The infants exposed to room air lost twice the amount of heat when compared with those insulated with two towels. The amount of heat loss by evaporation could not be demonstrated. The role of high relative humidity as an important determinant of the degree of heat loss by evaporation is stressed.