Moderate hypothermia at 29.5 °C in a patient without neurocognitive alterations: a case report
Abstract Background Hypothermia is typically associated with neurocognitive impairment, particularly as core temperature drops. However, cases without such symptoms are rarely reported. This case highlights an unusual presentation of moderate hypothermia without cognitive dysfunction, raising questi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Medical Case Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05347-3 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849399633086775296 |
|---|---|
| author | Arianna Merra Luca Tagliabue Adam-Scott Feiner |
| author_facet | Arianna Merra Luca Tagliabue Adam-Scott Feiner |
| author_sort | Arianna Merra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Hypothermia is typically associated with neurocognitive impairment, particularly as core temperature drops. However, cases without such symptoms are rarely reported. This case highlights an unusual presentation of moderate hypothermia without cognitive dysfunction, raising questions about individual variability in clinical manifestations. Case presentation A Swiss Caucasian female patient in her early 50s with a known history of psychiatric disorders presented to the emergency department with a core body temperature of 29.5 °C, consistent with moderate hypothermia. Remarkably, she was alert, oriented, and exhibited no signs of neurocognitive impairment, such as confusion, memory loss, or altered mental status. Her vital signs were stable, and laboratory and imaging studies excluded common causes such as infection, intoxication, or endocrine dysfunction. She was treated with passive external rewarming and careful monitoring. Her clinical condition improved steadily, and she was discharged without complications or neurological deficits. Conclusion This case demonstrates that moderate hypothermia may, in rare cases, present without neurocognitive alterations. It challenges the conventional association between hypothermia severity and mental status changes and suggests the need for further investigation into the physiological mechanisms behind this variability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e05029c501bf47ae8a980770fa3e99da |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1752-1947 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Case Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-e05029c501bf47ae8a980770fa3e99da2025-08-20T03:38:16ZengBMCJournal of Medical Case Reports1752-19472025-07-011911310.1186/s13256-025-05347-3Moderate hypothermia at 29.5 °C in a patient without neurocognitive alterations: a case reportArianna Merra0Luca Tagliabue1Adam-Scott Feiner2Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois - CHUV Service des UrgencesCentre hospitalier universitaire vaudois - CHUV Service des UrgencesCentre hospitalier universitaire vaudois - CHUV Service des UrgencesAbstract Background Hypothermia is typically associated with neurocognitive impairment, particularly as core temperature drops. However, cases without such symptoms are rarely reported. This case highlights an unusual presentation of moderate hypothermia without cognitive dysfunction, raising questions about individual variability in clinical manifestations. Case presentation A Swiss Caucasian female patient in her early 50s with a known history of psychiatric disorders presented to the emergency department with a core body temperature of 29.5 °C, consistent with moderate hypothermia. Remarkably, she was alert, oriented, and exhibited no signs of neurocognitive impairment, such as confusion, memory loss, or altered mental status. Her vital signs were stable, and laboratory and imaging studies excluded common causes such as infection, intoxication, or endocrine dysfunction. She was treated with passive external rewarming and careful monitoring. Her clinical condition improved steadily, and she was discharged without complications or neurological deficits. Conclusion This case demonstrates that moderate hypothermia may, in rare cases, present without neurocognitive alterations. It challenges the conventional association between hypothermia severity and mental status changes and suggests the need for further investigation into the physiological mechanisms behind this variability.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05347-3Moderate hypothermiaNeurocognitive functionGlasgow Coma scale (GCS)Psychiatric comorbidityRewarming treatment |
| spellingShingle | Arianna Merra Luca Tagliabue Adam-Scott Feiner Moderate hypothermia at 29.5 °C in a patient without neurocognitive alterations: a case report Journal of Medical Case Reports Moderate hypothermia Neurocognitive function Glasgow Coma scale (GCS) Psychiatric comorbidity Rewarming treatment |
| title | Moderate hypothermia at 29.5 °C in a patient without neurocognitive alterations: a case report |
| title_full | Moderate hypothermia at 29.5 °C in a patient without neurocognitive alterations: a case report |
| title_fullStr | Moderate hypothermia at 29.5 °C in a patient without neurocognitive alterations: a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Moderate hypothermia at 29.5 °C in a patient without neurocognitive alterations: a case report |
| title_short | Moderate hypothermia at 29.5 °C in a patient without neurocognitive alterations: a case report |
| title_sort | moderate hypothermia at 29 5 °c in a patient without neurocognitive alterations a case report |
| topic | Moderate hypothermia Neurocognitive function Glasgow Coma scale (GCS) Psychiatric comorbidity Rewarming treatment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05347-3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ariannamerra moderatehypothermiaat295cinapatientwithoutneurocognitivealterationsacasereport AT lucatagliabue moderatehypothermiaat295cinapatientwithoutneurocognitivealterationsacasereport AT adamscottfeiner moderatehypothermiaat295cinapatientwithoutneurocognitivealterationsacasereport |