Which description characterizes moderate hypothermia?

Which description characterizes moderate hypothermia?

• A. Amnesia, difficulty talking, can’t use hands, incoherent, irrational behavior, stupor
• B. Shivering and agitation
• C. Severe chest pain and diaphoresis
• D. Normal mental status with mild tremor

Answer: (A)

Moderate hypothermia shows a noticeable drop in brain function with cognitive and motor decline as the body cools further. When someone is in this stage, you’ll often see amnesia or difficulty talking, trouble using their hands, incoherent or irrational behavior, and even stupor as consciousness becomes dulled. Shivering tends to be less reliable here and may lessen as cooling deepens, so the presence of strong mental status changes with impaired movement is a hallmark of moderate hypothermia rather than just tremors or chest pain. The other descriptions describe either cardiac problems, mild or no mental status change, or shivering with agitation that doesn’t reflect the level of CNS depression seen in moderate hypothermia.

Moderate hypothermia shows a noticeable drop in brain function with cognitive and motor decline as the body cools further. When someone is in this stage, you’ll often see amnesia or difficulty talking, trouble using their hands, incoherent or irrational behavior, and even stupor as consciousness becomes dulled. Shivering tends to be less reliable here and may lessen as cooling deepens, so the presence of strong mental status changes with impaired movement is a hallmark of moderate hypothermia rather than just tremors or chest pain. The other descriptions describe either cardiac problems, mild or no mental status change, or shivering with agitation that doesn’t reflect the level of CNS depression seen in moderate hypothermia.