Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
06:43
Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management
Published on: November 21, 2017
Hypothermia in the home setiing - case report
Ceskoslovenska Patologie
|July 19, 2026
Summary
This case report details the deaths of a mother and son due to hypothermia in a neglected home. Environmental neglect and poor health contributed to their fatal outcome, highlighting risks of social isolation.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Two individuals, an 85-year-old female and her 56-year-old son, died in a confined apartment.
- They lived in conditions of extreme environmental neglect with domestic waste accumulation and social isolation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of death due to hypothermia in a neglected household.
- To investigate the contributing factors and postmortem findings.
Main Methods:
- Postmortem examinations were conducted on both decedents.
- Morphological indicators of hypothermia and comorbidities were assessed.
- Postmortem blood ethanol levels were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Both individuals exhibited signs of advanced hypothermia, including pale postmortem lividity, frostbite, and Visnevsky's spots.
- Terminal causes of death were cardiovascular and respiratory failure secondary to hypothermia.
- Ethanol consistent with endogenous production was detected; Visnevsky spots varied due to individual reserve capacities.
Conclusions:
- Hypothermia, exacerbated by environmental neglect and comorbidities (cardiac/hepatic pathology, malnutrition), led to death.
- Visnevsky spots can indicate hypothermia, with variations related to individual physiological reserves.
- This case underscores the fatal consequences of extreme neglect and social isolation.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Decreased Body Temperature
A decreased body temperature can occur in patients with hypothermia and frostbite. Heat loss with extended cold exposure overpowers the body's ability to create heat, resulting in hypothermia. Core temperature readings help classify hypothermia. Mild hypothermia is temperatures between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 35°C (95 °F) and is caused by impaired thermoregulation. Moderate hypothermia is temperatures between 28 C (82.4 °F) and 32 °C (89.6 °F) caused by sustained extreme cold exposure, and severe...
01:28Factors Affecting Body Temperature
As a nurse, it is vital to understand the factors affecting body temperature to monitor variations and effectively evaluate deviations from regular.
Factors may include:
Factors may include:
01:22Methods of reducing fever
The signs and symptoms of fever include hot and dry skin, flushed face, thirst, muscle aches, anorexia, headache, tachycardia, tachypnea, and fatigue. Elevated body temperature is reduced using two methods: pharmacological and nonpharmacological. Proper identification and treatment of the root cause of a fever is of utmost importance.
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
01:19Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature
Hyperthermia occurs when the body's temperature becomes unusually high, often due to heat exposure, intense physical activity, or certain illnesses. This condition can create a dangerous cycle where elevated body temperature increases the metabolic rate, generating more heat and potentially leading to organ failure and brain damage. A severe form of hyperthermia, called heat stroke, can raise body temperature to life-threatening levels. Fever, on the other hand, is a controlled form of...
01:25Increased Body Temperature
A body temperature above 38°C (100.4 °F) is known as fever or pyrexia, and a person with fever is termed 'febrile.' Typically, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, regulates body temperature through a thermoregulatory setpoint. It receives signals from cold and warm thermal receptors throughout the body and adjusts the body's temperature accordingly. Fever occurs when this hypothalamic setpoint is altered, usually in response to an infection or illness.
01:14Assessing Body Temperature - Axilla
Procedural Guide for Assessing Axillary Body Temperature using a Digital Thermometer:
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene and put on clean gloves to maintain infection control and prevent cross-contamination.
Step 2: Prepare the patient by explaining the procedure to ensure understanding and cooperation. Ensure privacy, expose the axilla, and inform the patient that minimal movement is crucial for an accurate reading.
Step 3: Adjust the patient’s clothing to expose only the axilla. It minimizes...
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene and put on clean gloves to maintain infection control and prevent cross-contamination.
Step 2: Prepare the patient by explaining the procedure to ensure understanding and cooperation. Ensure privacy, expose the axilla, and inform the patient that minimal movement is crucial for an accurate reading.
Step 3: Adjust the patient’s clothing to expose only the axilla. It minimizes...