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Infections in Hypothermic Infants Younger Than 3 Months Old

Infections in Hypothermic Infants Younger Than 3 Months Old Abstract • Hypothermia in infants is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Infection is thought to occur frequently and to carry a poor prognosis in infants with hypothermia. The medical records of 51 infants less than 3 months of age hospitalized from 1976 through 1981 with rectal temperatures of 34 °C or less were reviewed. Infections were diagnosed in 27 of the 51 infants. infections were associated significantly with the presence of bradycardia, anemia, abnormal leukocyte counts, abnormal serum glucose levels, and uremia, especially if two or more of these variables were present. Morbidity and mortality were higher among infected than among noninfected Infants. No rapid reliable indicators for the presence or absence of infection in an individual infant with hypothermia were found despite the differences noted between the two groups. Until new techniques for the detection of bacterial infections became available, we suggest that antibiotics be given to all infants younger than 3 months of age with hypothermia on admission to the hospital. (AJDC 1984;138:483-485) References 1. Jackson R, Yu JS: Cold injury of the newborn in Australia . Med J Aust 1973;2:630-633. 2. El Radhi AS, Jawad MH, Mansor N, et al: Infection in neonatal hypothermia . Arch Dis Child 1983;58:143-145.Crossref 3. Chaimoff CH: Cold injury among young infants . Harefuah 1961;61:164-167. 4. Sadikali I, Owor R: Hypothermia in the tropics: A review of 24 cases . Trop Geogr Med 1970;26:265-270. 5. Bower BD, Jones LF, Weeks MM: Cold injury in the newborn: A study of 70 cases . Br Med J 1960;1:303-309.Crossref 6. Arneil GC, Kerr MM: Severe hypothermia in Glasgow infants in the winter . Lancet 1963;1: 756-759.Crossref 7. Rogers MC, Greenberg M, Alpert JJ: Cold injury of the newborn . N Engl J Med 1971;285: 332-334.Crossref 8. Mann TP, Elliott RIK: Neonatal cold injury due to accidental exposure to the cold . Lancet 1957;1:229-234.Crossref 9. Harlap S, Prywes R, Grover NB, et al: Maternal, perinatal and infant health in Bedouin and Jews in southern Israel . Isr J Med Sci 1977;13:514-528. 10. Dagan R, Sofer S, Klish WJ, et al: Growth and nutritional status of Bedouin infants in the Negev desert, Israel: Evidence for marked stunting in the presence of only mild malnutrition. Am J Clin Nutr, in press. 11. Yu JS, Jackson R: Neonatal hypothermia in Australia . Practitioner 1974;213:790-794. 12. Hemming VG, Overall JCJ, Britt MR: Nosocomial infections in a newborn intensive care unit . N Engl J Med 1976;294:1310-1316.Crossref 13. Miller ME: Host defenses in the human neonate . Pediatr Clin North Am 1977;24:413-423. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Journal of Diseases of Children American Medical Association

Infections in Hypothermic Infants Younger Than 3 Months Old

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References (17)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1984 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0002-922X
DOI
10.1001/archpedi.1984.02140430059015
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract • Hypothermia in infants is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Infection is thought to occur frequently and to carry a poor prognosis in infants with hypothermia. The medical records of 51 infants less than 3 months of age hospitalized from 1976 through 1981 with rectal temperatures of 34 °C or less were reviewed. Infections were diagnosed in 27 of the 51 infants. infections were associated significantly with the presence of bradycardia, anemia, abnormal leukocyte counts, abnormal serum glucose levels, and uremia, especially if two or more of these variables were present. Morbidity and mortality were higher among infected than among noninfected Infants. No rapid reliable indicators for the presence or absence of infection in an individual infant with hypothermia were found despite the differences noted between the two groups. Until new techniques for the detection of bacterial infections became available, we suggest that antibiotics be given to all infants younger than 3 months of age with hypothermia on admission to the hospital. (AJDC 1984;138:483-485) References 1. Jackson R, Yu JS: Cold injury of the newborn in Australia . Med J Aust 1973;2:630-633. 2. El Radhi AS, Jawad MH, Mansor N, et al: Infection in neonatal hypothermia . Arch Dis Child 1983;58:143-145.Crossref 3. Chaimoff CH: Cold injury among young infants . Harefuah 1961;61:164-167. 4. Sadikali I, Owor R: Hypothermia in the tropics: A review of 24 cases . Trop Geogr Med 1970;26:265-270. 5. Bower BD, Jones LF, Weeks MM: Cold injury in the newborn: A study of 70 cases . Br Med J 1960;1:303-309.Crossref 6. Arneil GC, Kerr MM: Severe hypothermia in Glasgow infants in the winter . Lancet 1963;1: 756-759.Crossref 7. Rogers MC, Greenberg M, Alpert JJ: Cold injury of the newborn . N Engl J Med 1971;285: 332-334.Crossref 8. Mann TP, Elliott RIK: Neonatal cold injury due to accidental exposure to the cold . Lancet 1957;1:229-234.Crossref 9. Harlap S, Prywes R, Grover NB, et al: Maternal, perinatal and infant health in Bedouin and Jews in southern Israel . Isr J Med Sci 1977;13:514-528. 10. Dagan R, Sofer S, Klish WJ, et al: Growth and nutritional status of Bedouin infants in the Negev desert, Israel: Evidence for marked stunting in the presence of only mild malnutrition. Am J Clin Nutr, in press. 11. Yu JS, Jackson R: Neonatal hypothermia in Australia . Practitioner 1974;213:790-794. 12. Hemming VG, Overall JCJ, Britt MR: Nosocomial infections in a newborn intensive care unit . N Engl J Med 1976;294:1310-1316.Crossref 13. Miller ME: Host defenses in the human neonate . Pediatr Clin North Am 1977;24:413-423.

Journal

American Journal of Diseases of ChildrenAmerican Medical Association

Published: May 1, 1984

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