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- Frostbite occurs when freezing injures the body tissue. The degree of injury correlates to the depth of frozen tissue.
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- Mild cases -- numbness, prickling, and itching
- Deeper tissues -- loss of sensation and stiffness
- Severe -- skin becomes white or yellow and loses its elasticity; the extremity becomes swollen, blisters, forms dead/gangrenous (dark or black) tissue
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- Mild -- place warm hand on affected area. If the hands become affected, place them in the armpits. If toes become affected, remove footwear, dry the feet, and replace with dry footwear.
- More severe -- re-warming affected area in moving water bath at 104-107 degrees
- Protect affected part
- Protect skin blebs if they occur. Mild soaks with soapy water
- Antibiotics for deep infections
- Warmed intravenous fluids, gastric (stomach) lavage with warmed fluids, and oxygen may be needed in some cases.
- Peritoneal or hemodialysis may be done in severe cases.
- Physical therapy as needed
- Surgical treatment, only if absolutely necessary. Rarely, amputation is required as a last resort.
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- Do not to re-warm frostbitten limbs
with exercise or by rubbing with snow or ice
water.
- Do not re-warm unless you are sure you can prevent re-freezing -- thawing and then re-freezing can cause worse damage to the tissues.
- Elderly, homeless, those with illnesses (e.g., psychiatric, vascular), smokers, drug abusers, and infants are at risk.
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