Question

What are the common early signs and symptoms of non-freezing cold injury?

1) Paradoxical warm extremities
2) Numbness, itching or pain
3) Cold, hard tissue
4) Blisters

Answer 1

Early symptoms of non-freezing cold injury include numbness, itching or pain, and paradoxical warm sensations. It differs from frostbite as the affected tissues remain soft and spongy initially due to cold and damp conditions from poor circulation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The common early signs and symptoms of non-freezing cold injury include numbness, itching or pain, and paradoxical sensations like feeling warm when actually the extremities are very cold. Unlike frostbite, where the tissues become hard and cold, non-freezing cold injury may not present with hard tissue or blisters immediately. Instead, the affected areas may feel soft and spongy as the tissues are cold and damp from impaired circulation. These symptoms can escalate to more severe conditions if exposure to the cold continues without appropriate measures to rewarm the tissues gradually.