Which of the following body temperatures is designated as Hypothermia?

Appeared in: AIIMS Bhopal NO - 2018 (Shift-1st)

Explanation

Hypothermia is clinically defined as a core body temperature below 35°C (95°F).
This condition is considered a medical emergency because it impairs vital metabolic processes.
The body's heat loss surpasses its ability to produce heat, leading to a dangerously low temperature.
Symptoms progress from shivering and confusion in mild cases to loss of consciousness and cardiac arrest in severe cases.

Option B: The temperature range of 38°C to 40°C is classified as fever, also known as pyrexia. This is an elevated body temperature, the opposite of hypothermia.
Option C: A temperature of 40°C to 42°C indicates hyperpyrexia, which is an extremely high and life-threatening fever.
Option D: The range of 36°C to 37.5°C is considered the normal range for human body temperature (normothermia or afebrile).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definition and classification of body temperature, specifically hypothermia as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must be able to accurately assess body temperature and recognize deviations from the normal range to identify conditions like hypothermia or fever promptly.
Nursing interventions for hypothermia are critical and include removing wet clothing, applying warm blankets, providing warm oral fluids (if conscious), and using active rewarming methods like forced-air warming blankets as ordered.
What if? If a patient with hypothermia stops shivering, it is a sign of worsening condition (moderate to severe hypothermia), not improvement. This indicates the body's thermoregulatory mechanisms are failing, and more aggressive medical intervention is urgently needed.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept in the question, which is 'Hypothermia'.
This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge about the standard medical definitions of body temperature ranges.
Recall the specific temperature threshold that defines hypothermia.
Evaluate each option against this definition. 'Below 35°C' directly matches the definition of hypothermia.
Mentally classify the other options to confirm your answer: 36-37°C is normal, 38-40°C is fever, and 40-42°C is hyperpyrexia. This confirms that the first option is the only correct choice.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Definition and classification of body temperature, specifically hypothermia.
Stem keywords: body temperatures, Hypothermia
Lead-in keywords: Which

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