Case history
Case history #1
A 74-year-old man who lives alone was found unconscious in his bed. Although it was the middle of winter, he was only wearing a T-shirt and shorts. The room was unheated and next to his bed were empty beer cans and an empty bottle of lorazepam. Physical examination revealed a core temperature of 87.8°F (31°C), obtained with a low-reading tympanic thermometer.
Case history #2
A 43-year-old climber was visiting Washington state on a climbing expedition. After becoming incapacitated on an exposed mountain face he was rescued after 4 days and airlifted to the nearest emergency department. On arrival, his core temperature was 73.4°F (23°C) and he was unconscious with weak signs of life.
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