Hypothermia

Subject: Midwifery III (Theory)

Overview

Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in body temperature caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. The average body temperature is 98.6 degrees. The core temperature falls below 95 degrees during hypothermia. The core body temperature drops to 86 degrees or lower in severe hypothermia. Hypothermia is characterized clinically by constant shivering, tiredness, low energy, rapid breathing, drowsiness, and difficulty moving around. Staying in the cold for too long, being unable to change out of wet clothes or move to a warm, dry location, accidental falls in water, inadequate heating in the home, especially for older people and infants, and heavy exertion, not drinking enough fluids or eating enough in the cold are all causes of hypothermia.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in body temperature caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. The average body temperature is 98.6 degrees. The core temperature falls below 95 degrees during hypothermia. The core body temperature drops to 86 degrees or lower in severe hypothermia

Causes

  • Staying out in the cold for an extended period of time
  • Inability to change out of wet clothes or relocate to a warm, dry location
  • Waterfalls that are unintentional
  • Inadequate heating in the home, especially for the elderly and infants
  • Excessive exertion, a lack of fluids, or a lack of nutrition in the cold
  • Too-cold air conditioning, especially for the elderly and infants

Clinical features

Mild hypothermia

  • Shivering all the time
  • Tiredness
  • Insufficient energy
  • Cold or pallid
  • Rapid breathing

Moderate hypothermia

  • Impaired ability to think or pay attention
  • Confusion
  • Drowsiness
  • Speech that slurs
  • Coordination problems
  • Moving around can be difficult

Severe hypothermia

  • Unconsciousness
  • Breathing that is shallow or non-existent
  • Weak, irregular, or non-existent pulse
  • Pupils dilated

Management

  • Contact between the skins
  • Kangaroo mother's concern
  • Incubator with Radiant Warming
  • Keep the room temperature constant
  • Take away the wet cloth
  • Vital signs monitoring
  • Nutrition and breast-feeding
  • Maintain a stable blood glucose level
  • When napkins become wet, they should be changed.
  • Baby should be dried immediately after birth and after bathing.
  • Put the baby in as much clothing or cover as possible. Cover the head completely.
Things to remember
  • Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in body temperature caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures.

  • The average body temperature is 98.6 degrees. The core temperature falls below 95 degrees during hypothermia. The core body temperature drops to 86 degrees or lower in severe hypothermia.

  • Hypothermia is characterized clinically by constant shivering, tiredness, low energy, rapid breathing, drowsiness, and difficulty moving around.

  • Staying in the cold for too long, being unable to change out of wet clothes or move to a warm, dry location, accidental falls in water, inadequate heating in the home, especially for older people and infants, and heavy exertion, not drinking enough fluids or eating enough in the cold are all causes of hypothermia.

Questions and Answers

A potentially severe drop in body temperature, known as hypothermia, is typically brought on by prolonged exposure to low temperatures. The average body temperature is 98.6 degrees. The core temperature falls below 95 degrees during hypothermia. The core body temperature falls to 86 degrees or lower in severe hypothermia.

Clinical Features

  • Mild Hypothermia
    • Ongoing trembling
    • Tiredness
    • Low vigor
    • Pale or chilly
    • Rapid respiration
  • Moderate Hypothermia
    • Being unable to concentrate or think
    • Confusion
    • Drowsiness
    • Unsteady speech
    • A decline in coordination
    • Having trouble moving around
  • Severe Hypothermia
    • Unconsciousness
    • Lacking or shallow breathing
    • Weak, erratic, or absent pulse
    • Dilated eyes
  • Skin-to-skin interaction
  • Maternal care for kangaroos
  • Glowing warmer
  • Incubator
  • Preserve the ambient temperature
  • Delete the damp cloth
  • Observing the vital signs
  • Nursing and nutrition
  • Maintain the amount of blood sugar
  • When napkins become damp, replace them
  • Immediately after birth and after bathing, dry the infant
  • Put the infant as fully clothed or covered as you can. Cover your head completely.

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