{"id":39219,"key":"Global_Health_Medical_Device_Compendium/Thermospot_Temperature_Indicator","title":"Global Health Medical Device Compendium/Thermospot Temperature Indicator","latest":{"id":1267350,"timestamp":"2026-09-10T13:08:08Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"[[File:Thermospot.jpg|thumb]]\n\n{{GHMDC device data\n| health-topic = Child mortality\n| classification = Diagnosis\n| scope = Commercialized\n| manufacturer-location = India\n}}\n\nHypothermia is a leading cause of infant death in developing countries. Thermometers can be expensive and some require electricity or batteries, which can be a difficult burden on the user. There is currently no low-cost method for continuous monitoring of an infant's body temperature.\n\n== Detailed description of the solution ==\n\nThermospot is a low-cost, reusable hypothermia indicator designed particularly for use by illiterate mothers. It is a small, flexible sticker with a smiley face to be applied to the infant or child's skin. The LCD screen on the sticker changes color in accordance with the infant's core temperature. It is green with a smiley face when core temperature is between normal limits of between 36.5 and 37.5<sup>o</sup>C. The color varies from light green with a smiley face to red with a smiley face to all black to indicate severe hypothermia. The color also changes to blue to indicate a fever.\n\n== Designed by ==\n\n* Designed by: John Zeal in the mid-1990s (original design)\n* Manufacturing: worldwide. It can be purchased at Maternova.net\n\n== When and where it was tested/implemented ==\n\nThermo-spot has been field-tested for more than a decade in several locations including Northern India and Malawi. It is available for sale for less than 8 US cents, and the cost is expected to decrease with mass implementation. This device is now currently available for purchase.\n\n== Funding Source ==\n\nClinical studies were funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Save the Children. The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health has also contributed to this product's development.\n\n== References ==\n\n=== Peer-reviewed publication ===\n\nGreen, D. A., Kumar, A., & Khanna, R. (2006). Neonatal hypothermia detection by ThermoSpot in indian urban slum dwellings. Archives of Disease in Childhood.Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 91(2), F96-8.\n\nKambarami, R., Chidede, O., & Pereira, N. (2002). ThermoSpot in the detection of neonatal hypothermia. Annals of Tropical Paediatrics, 22(3), 219-223.\n\nKennedy, N., Gondwe, L., & Morley, D. C. (2000). Temperature monitoring with ThermoSpots in Malawi. Lancet, 355(9212), 1364.\n\nKumar, V., Mohanty, S., Kumar, A., Misra, R. P., Santosham, M., Awasthi, S., et al. Saksham Study Group. (2008). Effect of community-based behaviour change management on neonatal mortality in Shivgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India: A cluster-randomised controlled trial. Lancet, 372(9644), 1151-1162.\n\nMorrice, J., Manda, L., & Kacheche, A. (2003). Hypothermia and the use of Thermospots. Trop Doct., 33(4), 253.\n\nPejaver, R. K., Nisarga, R., & Gowda, B. (2004). Temperature monitoring in newborns using ThermoSpot. Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 71(9), 795-796.\n\n=== Other internally generated reports ===\n\nZeal J & Fripp R. Introducing the ThermoSpot a non-invasive hypothermia indicator for newborns, infants and children. Online brochure available [http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1rzov/Thermospotbrochure/resources/4.htm here].\n\n=== Externally generated reports ===\n\nBBC News. (2005.) Fading smile could save babies. Link available [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4618857.stm here].\n\nMaternova. (2011.) Thermaspot Temperature Indicator. Link available [http://maternova.net/health-innovations/thermospot-temperature-indicator here].\n\n=== Approval by regulatory bodies or standards boards ===\n\nCE approval\n\n{{Page data\n| sdg = SDG03 Good health and well-being, SDG09 Industry innovation and infrastructure\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n| language = en\n}}"}