Context
Hypothermia is the pathological state in which the core body temperature falls below 35oC. It can be categorised according to severity [1-3].
| Severity | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Mild | 35-33oC |
| Moderate | 32-28oC |
| Severe | 28-20oC |
| Profound | <20oC |
Hypothermia can be further classified as primary or secondary:
Primary hypothermia
Primary hypothermia occurs when otherwise healthy individuals are exposed to environmental circumstances (e.g. adverse weather, cold water immersion) that cause their core temperature to drop.
Secondary hypothermia
Secondary hypothermia occurs when the drop in core temperature is secondary to a primary disease process, such as alcohol intoxication, trauma or a myocardial infarct.