Cold Temperature Exposure: Check Your Symptoms

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Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

• Cold skin in a foot, arm, leg, or hand that is not caused by cold exposure: Go to the topics:
  • Toe, Foot, and Ankle Problems, Noninjury.
  • Finger, Hand, and Wrist Problems, Noninjury.
  • Arm Problems, Noninjury.
  • Leg Problems, Noninjury.
• Hives, a rash, or itching after cold exposure: Go to the topics:
  • Allergic Reaction.
  • Rash, Age 12 and Older.
  • Rash, Age 11 and Younger.

For information on how to take an accurate temperature, see the topic Body Temperature.

Yes

Do you have or does someone else have symptoms of low body temperature (early hypothermia) and a temperature of or lower?

Yes

Do you have or does someone else have symptoms of low body temperature (early hypothermia), but you have not taken a temperature?

Yes

Do you have symptoms of cold-injured skin, such as frostbite?

Yes

Do you have eye pain or vision changes? Note: You may not have any symptoms for 6 to 8 hours after cold exposure.

Yes

Do you think you have a skin infection after rewarming cold skin?

Yes

Are your hands, fingers, feet, nose, or ears sensitive to cold temperatures?

Yes

Are you worried that the cold-injured skin is dirty and you need a tetanus shot?

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

Last updated:	July 05, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer