Effect of Topical Oil Application on Trans-Epidermal Water Loss in Preterm Infants - A Randomized Clinical Trail
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Trans Epidermal Water Loss
- Sponsor
- Lady Hardinge Medical College
- Enrollment
- 74
- Primary Endpoint
- Trans Epidermal Water Loss(TEWL)
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 13 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The skin of newborn infants is immature and ineffective as a barrier. Preterm skin exhibits even more vulnerability to the environment due to poor self regulatory heat mechanisms, paucity of fatty tissue and its thinness. Most preterm babies lose up to 13% of their weight as water loss from their skin during the first week of life. Many strategies have been utilized by neonatologists to decrease this water loss. Edible coconut oil application on the skin acts as a non permeable barrier and can help in achieving this. Hence the investigators decided to undertake this study to objectively assess the reduction in water loss from skin after oil application.
Investigators
Sushma Nangia, M.D.
Professor
Lady Hardinge Medical College
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •All preterm babies born at the study center with birth weight \< 1500g were eligible for inclusion in the study.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Babies with birth weight less than 750 gms at birth
- •Babies with major congenital malformations.
- •Babies with severe asphyxia, hydrops and shock.
- •Babies with congenital diseases of skin associated with skin breach or denudation of skin precluding oil application
- •Babies with preexisting skin infection such as multiple furuncles (2 or more skin areas - each limb, head, chest, abdomen and back are the individual areas that will be taken as one area)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Trans Epidermal Water Loss(TEWL)
Time Frame: first 7 days of life
TEWL was measured using evaporimeter(Vapometer, Delfin Technologies limited, Kuopio, Finland) at 12 hours of age and thereafter every 12 hours till first 7 days of life
Secondary Outcomes
- Weight(first 7 days of life and 40 weeks postmenstrual age)
- Skin condition Score(at day 7 of life)
- Skin colonization pattern(at day 7 of life)