Overview:
The hypothermia is a reduction of the body temperature below 35 ° C. It occurs when body heat loss is greater than the production of the same.
Hypothermia is common in case of cold weather or cold water diving. Wet clothing and the exposure to bad weather increase the risk. Hypothermia can be observed in ' frostbite and in various pathological conditions in which processes are altered thermoregulation (with reduced production of heat and / or excessive dissipation); is the case, for example, of Addison's disease , states of malnutrition , poisoning, intoxication by drugs or alcohol . The situations that cause loss of consciousness and / or immobility are common predisposing factors (e.g. trauma, hypoglycemia or heatstroke). …show more content…
Their skin is cold and pale cadaverous and the points under pressure have spots erythematous, bullous or purpuric. The subcutaneous tissues have increased consistency, possibly due to edema, which also causes swelling, especially of the face.
The neurological findings include the speech slow and clumsy, gait ataxia and mitigation of deep tendon reflexes. Drowsiness and mental confusion may progress to coma. It is possible the presence of pathological reflexes and plantar responses and the pupils are dilated and poorly reactive. They can also appear focal signs, seizures, paralysis and sensory hypofunction.
The cardiovascular system is initially stimulated by the cold, which causes peripheral vasoconstriction, tachycardia and rise in BP. With the progression of hypothermia, the heart muscle is depressed and progressive sinus bradycardia and hypotension occurs. Severe hypothermia can reduce BP and heart rate to levels barely measurable, which in rare cases leads to erroneously diagnosing death. Cold temperatures can trigger various cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation and flutter, the ventricular premature beats and rhythm idioventricular. The cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation or asystole, it becomes increasingly likely when the body temperature falls below 30 °