The damage which occurs to skin and underlying soft tissue due to prolonged exposure to extreme cold climate is known as frost bite. Most commonly affected areas are the extremities like hands, feet, nose and ears. It generally involves the parts which are far away from the heart.

 

The damage which occurs to skin and underlying soft tissue due to prolonged exposure to extreme cold climate is known as frost bite. Most commonly affected areas are the extremities like hands, feet, nose and ears. It generally involves the parts which are far away from the heart.

First symptoms of frost bite

• Numbness or tingling sensations in the affected part
• Skin feels waxy to touch and it appears whit to yellow
• Pain sensations are lost
• At a later stage there can be redness and swelling of the skin
• Blisters and peeling of skin are the other symptoms involved in later stage of frost bite
• If the situation continues there can be permanent nerve damage in the affected area

Complications of frost bite

• Paresthesias
• Cold sensitivity
• Sensory loss
• Hyperhidrosis
• Chilblains
• Pernio
• Trench foot
• Gangrene

Management and precautions

• Don’t rub the affected area
• If possible cover the affected area with a gloved hand
• Seek medical facility as early as possible
• Don’t go for sudden warming of the affected area instead go slowly and steadily
• Immediately get out of the cold
• Don’t allow direct exposure of the affected area to wind
• Never burst the blisters caused by the cold weather
• If possible drink plenty of warn and sweet fluid
• Don’t walk if you get a frostbitten foot
• Don’t warm the affected region by farm instead try some indirect source of heat
• Antitetanus prophylaxis should be used
• Analgesics to be used as and when needed like ibuprofen
• Intravenous antibiotics can be used like Benzyl Penicillin
• Hydrotherapy is indicated