Actual freezing of body tissues is characteristic of which injury?

• A. Frostbite
• B. Hypothermia
• C. Chilblains
• D. Frostnip

Answer: (A)

Actual freezing of body tissues is frostbite. When skin and deeper tissues are exposed to very cold temperatures, ice crystals can form inside the cells and surrounding tissue, causing direct tissue injury and disrupted blood flow. This is what sets frostbite apart from other cold-related conditions. A systemic drop in core temperature, known as hypothermia, affects the whole body rather than freezing tissue in a localized area. Chilblains are a non-freezing cold injury caused by repeated exposure to cold and damp conditions, leading to red, swollen, and itchy skin rather than actual tissue freezing. Frostnip is a milder, superficial freezing where the surface of the skin freezes but no tissue death occurs, so there is no lasting tissue damage. Frostbite can range from superficial involvement of the skin to deeper tissue destruction, and proper management emphasizes gradual rewarming and protecting the area.