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Clinical features

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The clinical feature of hypothermia include:

  • grey complexion, with pallor and cyanosis
  • skin is cold to touch, both where exposed and where usually warm, for example the abdomen and axilla
  • puffy face and hoarse voice
  • confusion, drowsiness and stupor, with poor judgement
  • increased muscle tone, with rigidity at 32 degrees C
  • shivering, until below 30 degrees C
  • weakness
  • hypokinesia
  • ataxia, occasionally tremor
  • tachycardia, followed by bradycardia at lower temperatures
  • characteristic changes on the ECG e.g. J-waves, prolonged QT and T wave inversion may be found
  • hypertension, with hypotension at lower temperatures
  • hyperventilation, followed by shallow respiration, with hypoventilation causing hypoxia at lower temperatures

Reference

  1. Dow J, Giesbrecht GG, Danzl DF, et al. Wilderness Medical Society clinical practice guidelines for the out-of-hospital evaluation and treatment of accidental hypothermia: 2019 update. Wilderness Environ Med. 2019 Dec;30(4 Suppl):S47-69.

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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