Related Experiment Videos
Factors affecting rectal temperature in infancy
C S Tuffnell1, S A Petersen, M P Wailoo
1Department of Child Health and Pre-Clinical Sciences, University of Leicester.
Insights
Overnight infant rectal temperatures are influenced by several factors. Key risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome, like parental smoking and bottle feeding, were found to increase infant body temperature during sleep.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Infant sleep environment and physiological parameters are crucial for health.
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) risk factors require further investigation into their physiological effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze overnight rectal temperatures in infants.
- To determine the impact of SIDS risk factors on infant body temperature.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1197 overnight rectal temperature recordings from infants up to 24 weeks old.
- Multivariable regression to assess the influence of 12 variables, including SIDS risk factors.
Main Results:
- Infant age, birth weight, and supine sleeping position were associated with decreased rectal temperatures.
- Increased nighttime room temperature, infant weight, and combined bottle feeding with parental smoking correlated with higher rectal temperatures.
- Individual effects of bottle feeding and parental smoking were not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Certain SIDS risk factors, such as combined bottle feeding and parental smoking, can elevate sleeping infant rectal temperatures.
- Understanding these temperature fluctuations is important for infant health and SIDS prevention strategies.
Abstract:
The recordings of 1197 overnight rectal temperatures from infants of up to 24 weeks of age have been analysed with respect to 12 variables, including a number of risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome. Multivariable regression was used to identify if parental smoking, bottle feeding, sleeping position, and birth weight affect the overnight rectal temperature of infants. The rectal temperature, averaged over the period from three to five hours after the infants were put to bed, correlated well (R = 0.36) with the collected variables. An increase in the infant's age, birth weight, and the supine sleeping position all decreased the night time rectal temperatures. However, an increase in the night time room temperature, weight, and the combination of bottle feeding and parental smoking produced an increase in rectal temperature. The individual effects of bottle feeding and parental smoking were not significant. The results show that some of the major risk factors have the effect of raising the rectal temperature of sleeping infants.