In simple words: Hypothermia is when your body temperature gets dangerously low, usually from being out in the cold for too long. It can happen because of cold weather or being in cold water. If not treated quickly, it can cause serious problems or even death.

Hypothermia, encompassing accidental hypothermia and hypothermia not otherwise specified (NOS), is characterized by a body temperature below 95°F (35°C).This condition results from prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, either naturally occurring or man-made, and can lead to severe complications, including organ failure and death.Additional codes may be necessary to specify the source of exposure (e.g., exposure to excessive cold of natural origin (X31) or exposure to excessive cold of man-made origin (W93)).Excludes hypothermia following anesthesia (T88.51), hypothermia not associated with low environmental temperature (R68.0), and hypothermia of the newborn (P80).

Example 1: A 65-year-old homeless man is found unresponsive in a snowdrift.He is transported to the emergency room with a core body temperature of 88°F (31°C).Diagnosis: T68 (Hypothermia), X31 (Exposure to excessive cold of natural origin)., A 25-year-old woman falls into an icy river while hiking.She is rescued and brought to the hospital with shivering, confusion, and a body temperature of 92°F (33.3°C). Diagnosis: T68 (Hypothermia)., A 70-year-old patient with chronic heart failure is admitted to the hospital for hypothermia after prolonged exposure to cold temperatures in her home. Diagnosis: T68 (Hypothermia), I50 (Heart failure).

Detailed history of exposure to cold environment, patient's symptoms (shivering, confusion, lethargy, decreased heart rate and respiratory rate), core body temperature measurement, and treatment provided (e.g., active and passive rewarming techniques).

** This code should not be used for hypothermia associated with other conditions such as anesthesia or newborn hypothermia, for which separate codes exist.