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Hipotermia - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Exposición al frío; Temperatura corporal baja

Definición:

Es una temperatura corporal peligrosamente baja, por debajo de 35º C (95º F).

Consideraciones generales:

Entre las personas con mayores probabilidades de experimentar hipotermia están aquellas que estén:

  • Muy ancianas o muy jóvenes
  • Padeciendo una enfermedad crónica, en especial quienes sufren de problemas circulatorios o cardíacos
  • Desnutridas
  • Excesivamente cansadas
  • Bajo los efectos de alcohol o drogas

Causas:

La hipotermia ocurre cuando el cuerpo pierde más calor del que puede generar y generalmente es causada por una prolongada exposición al frío.

Las causas más comunes son:

  • Permanecer al aire libre durante el invierno sin protegerse con la suficiente ropa adecuada.
  • Caer de una embarcación en aguas frías.
  • Usar ropas húmedas por mucho tiempo cuando hay viento o hace mucho frío.
  • Hacer esfuerzos agotadores o no ingerir alimentos o bebidas suficientes en climas fríos.
  • Reviewed last on: 1/14/2010
  • Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Danzl DF. Accidental hypothermia. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2009:chap 138.

Bessen HA. Hypothermia. In: Tintinalli JE, Kelen GD, Stapczynski JS, Ma OJ, Cline DM, eds. Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2004:chap 192.

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