Which of the following is a non-freezing injury?

• A. Chillbains
• B. Frostbite
• C. Heat stroke
• D. Dehydration

Answer: (A)

Chillbains are a non-freezing injury from cold, damp conditions. They develop after prolonged exposure to cold without tissue freezing and mainly affect exposed digits like toes and fingers. The problem comes from prolonged vasoconstriction and inflammatory changes in small blood vessels, leading to redness, itching, swelling, and sometimes tenderness. Management focuses on gentle warming, keeping the area dry, and protecting it from further cold exposure, with medical evaluation if symptoms persist or worsen.

Frostbite, by contrast, is a freezing injury where tissue actually freezes, causing numbness, pale or waxy skin, and possible blistering or tissue damage, requiring rapid rewarming in warm water and careful wound care. Heat stroke and dehydration aren’t cold injuries; heat stroke is a failure of the body’s cooling mechanism with high core temperature, and dehydration is volume depletion from fluid loss.