What condition results from a core body temperature dropping below 35 degrees Celsius?

Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature drops below 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). This condition is characterized by the body losing heat faster than it can produce it, typically due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. As the body temperature decreases, physiological functions begin to deteriorate, leading to symptoms such as shivering, confusion, and, in severe cases, loss of consciousness and death. Understanding hypothermia is crucial in aviation medicine, as pilots and crew members can be exposed to extreme temperatures during flights, and recognizing the signs and symptoms can be vital for safety and health management in cold environments.

Other conditions mentioned, such as frostbite, chillblains, and trench foot, are related to cold exposure but are specific injuries or responses rather than a systemic drop in core body temperature like hypothermia. Frostbite involves localized freezing of body tissues, typically extremities; chillblains are painful inflammation due to repeated exposure to cold but not severe enough to cause freezing; and trench foot results from prolonged exposure to wet and cold conditions but does not necessarily involve a drop in core body temperature to below 35 degrees Celsius.