Exploiting the igloo principle and greenhouse effect to regulate humidity and temperature

• Published in: Indian journal of dermatology, venereology, and leprology venereology, and leprology, 2006-09, Vol.72 (5), p.361
• Main Authors: Prabhu, Karthick S, Srinivas, C R, Nair, Shashidharan, Sundaram, Shanmuga V, Thirumurthy, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body Temperature - physiology; Body Temperature Regulation - physiology; Care and treatment; Greenhouse Effect; Health aspects; Heating - instrumentation; Heating - methods; Humans; Humidity; Humidity - standards; Incubators - standards; Male; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome - therapy; Temperature; Toxic epidermal necrolysis
• ISSN: 0378-6323; 0973-3922; 1998-3611
• DOI: 10.4103/0378-6323.27753

Toxic epidermal necrolysis can be fatal and nursing care with careful monitoring of temperature and humidity can improve survival rate. We adapted the greenhouse and igloo principle using a common hood to monitor the temperature and humidity. A small heater with a regulator was placed in a mini hood and temperature was recorded inside the uncovered hood and hood covered with green cloth and aluminium foil separately. The regular hood was placed over a volunteer and the temperature was measured inside the open hood and hood covered with green cloth and aluminium foil separately. The relative humidity was also monitored using Zeal mercury dry--wet bulb hygrometer. Temperature increase was most marked in the foil-covered hood followed by cloth-covered hood, both with the heater and the volunteer. Similarly, in the volunteer study, the humidity was best maintained inside the aluminium foil-covered hood. We recommend the use of regular hood with suitable cover to monitor the humidity and temperature of patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis.