Fantoms
HYPOTHERMIA, ACCIDENTAL
We touched on the prevention of hypothermia in the November edition (A-L Frannsson et al, Arch Dis Child 2005;90:F500–4): in this issue Green et al report the detection of cold babies in a community setting and the validation of a simple device for the detection of hypothermia
in Indian urban slums. The device seems to perform well, and most of the hypothermia was found on the first postnatal day,
just as Fransson et al would predict. Worldwide, this device could have great potential for the prevention of avoidable harm to newborn babies.
See page 96
HYPOTHERMIA, DELIBERATE
There has been huge interest in the potential of therapeutic hypothermia for the treatment of perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury. Animal work is supportive and encouraging, and the first reports from various trials are starting to emerge in the literature. But as with all such potential advances, enthusiasm may …
