Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
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Frostbite
DESCRIPTION
Frostbitten skin is cold, white, tingly, and/or numb. The
most common sites are toes, fingers, tip of the nose,
earlobes, or cheeks. The nerves, blood vessels, and other
cells are temporarily frozen by exposure to cold.
The windchill temperature determines how quickly frostbite
occurs. The frostbite is much worse if the skin or clothing
is also wet at the time of cold exposure.
HOME CARE
- Treatment
The main treatment for frostbite is to rewarm the area
rapidly with wet heat. Place the frostbitten part in
very warm water or cover it with warm wet cloths. The
water should be very warm (104 to 108 degrees F, or 40
to 42 degrees C) but not hot enough to burn. Immersion
in this warm water should continue until a pink flush
signals the return of blood circulation to the
frostbitten part (usually 20 to 30 minutes). At this
point the numbness should disappear.
If your child has lots of frostbite, the last 10 minutes
of rewarming are usually quite painful. If there is any
pain, your child can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Offer warm fluids to drink.
- Common mistakes in treating frostbite
A common error is to apply snow to the frostbitten area
or to massage it; both can cause serious damage to
thawing tissues. Do not rewarm the area with dry heat,
such as a heat lamp or electric heater because
frostbitten skin is easily burned.
- Prevention
- Be sure your child dresses in layers for cold weather.
The first layer should be thermal underwear, and the
outer layer needs to be waterproof. The layers should
be loose, not tight. Mittens are warmer than gloves.
- Your child should wear a hat. Over 50% of a child's
body heat is lost from the head.
- Set limits on the time spent outdoors when the
windchill temperature falls below 0 degrees F (minus
18 degrees C).
- Teach your child to recognize the earliest warnings of
frostbite. Tell him that tingling and numbness are
reminders that he is not dressed warmly enough for the
weather and needs to go indoors.
CALL YOUR CHILD'S PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY IF:
- A large area is frostbitten.
- The color of the skin and sensation don't return to
normal after 1 hour of rewarming.
- Your child is acting confused or very sick.
CALL YOUR CHILD'S PHYSICIAN DURING OFFICE HOURS IF:
- The frostbitten part develops blisters.
- You have other questions or concerns.
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