Clinical Features

Accidental hypothermia: an involuntary drop in core body temperature below 35°C (95°F)

Mild hypothermia (32–35°C/ 89.6–95.0°F)

• Alert, impaired judgment

• Amnesia, dysarthria, ataxia

• Tachycardia, tachypnea

• Shivering

• Bleeding diathesis

Moderate hypothermia (28–32°C/ 82.4–89.6°F)

• Worsening CNS depression, e.g. lethargy, stupor

• Hypoventilation

• Bradycardia, cardiac arrhythmias

• Hyporeflexia

• Dilated pupils

• Loss of shivering typically occurs [6]

• Cold diuresis: Peripheral vasoconstriction in hypothermia increases central and renal blood flow, which causes antidiuretic hormone suppression, resulting in diluted urine.

• Paradoxical undressing: the abnormal removal of clothing by patients despite low ambient temperature

• Ileus, pancreatitis

• Coma, areflexia

• Fixed and dilated pupils

• Ventricular fibrillation

• Hypotension

• Pulmonary edema, apnea

• Oliguria [10]

• Rigidity (pseudo-rigor mortis)

• Pulselessness