Prevention of neonatal cold injury in preterm infants

Abstract

In many parts of the world neonatal cold injury still contributes to neonatal death in preterm or growth‐retarded neonates. Kangaroo Mother Care might improve the situation and is the only effective, affordable and available method to prevent neonatal hypothermia in most developing countries. In developed countries, highly sophisticated incubators and radiant warmers are available but there is increasing concern about the long‐term effects of high levels of sound, disturbing light and unplanned procedures which can have a bearing on the use of these tools. A controlled clinical trial of cot‐nursing with a heated, water‐filled mattress is presented in this issue of Acta Pædiatrica. Conclusion: The results from the new trial and the recently published systematic reviews by the Cochrane Library of technologies to provide warmth to preterm infants in modern neonatal intensive care units, makes it possible to suggest the place of available tools: incubators, radiant warmers, heated water‐filled mattresses and care in skin‐to‐skin contact.