Breathing, sleep state, and rectal temperature oscillations

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood Vol. 74; no. 5; pp. 427 - 431
• Main Authors: Tappin, D M, Ford, R P, Nelson, K P, Price, B, Macey, P M, Dove, R, Larkin, J, Slade, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 01.05.1996; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Aging - physiology; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Clocks - physiology; Body Temperature - physiology; Climate; Emergency and intensive care: neonates and children. Prematurity. Sudden death; Eye Movements; Eye Movements - physiology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infants; Intensive care medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Motor Reactions; Rectum - physiology; Respiration - physiology; Sleep; Sleep Stages - physiology; Young Children; Human; Ripening; Sleep apnea syndrome; Sleep; Respiratory disease; Sudden death; Thermoregulation; Infant; Central temperature; Respiratory control; Respiration
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.74.5.427

Overheating may cause terminal apnoea and cot death. Rectal temperature and breathing patterns were examined in normal infants at home during the first 6 months of life. Twenty one infants had continuous overnight rectal temperature and breathing recordings for 429 nights (mean 20.4 nights, range 7-30) spaced over the first six months of life. Periods when breathing was 'regular' were directly marked on single night records. Sleep state was determined from respiratory variables. 'Regular' breathing was a reliable marker of 'quiet' sleep (specificity 93%). The duration of 'quiet' sleep increased from 6 to 22 minutes from two weeks to three months of age and then remained static, as did the proportion of sleep spent in the quiet phase (9% to 34%). Rectal temperature fell during 66% of quiet sleep and usually rose during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The drop in rectal temperature was maximal at the start of quiet sleep, whereas the maximum rise during REM sleep was reached after 10 to 15 minutes. Oscillations in rectal temperature are associated with changes in sleep and breathing state. The maturation of rectal temperature patterns during the first six months of life are closely related to a maturation of sleep state and breathing patterns.