When blood has a lower level of oxygen and becomes a darker red, more blue light is reflected, making the skin appear to have a blue tint. Being cold is the most common cause of blue hands or feet. It may also be the result of low oxygen levels in the red blood cells. Normal hemoglobin levels are Peripheral cyanosis affects the hands and the feet.
In some cases, it affects the skin around the mouth. In certain cases, blue lips or skin can be a sign of a life threatening emergency. If the discoloration is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, call or your local emergency services:.
Bluish skin can be a sign of something serious. To determine a cause, a doctor will need to perform a physical examination. Treatment involves identifying and correcting the underlying cause to restore the oxygenated blood flow to the affected parts of the body. Using these medications to treat peripheral cyanosis is considered off-label drug use. However, a doctor can still use the drug for that purpose. This is because the FDA regulates the testing and approval of medications, but not how doctors use them to treat their patients.
So, your doctor can prescribe a drug in whatever way they think is best for your care. You may also need to avoid certain medications that constrict blood vessels as a side effect, including types of:.
You may need to avoid caffeine and nicotine, both of which can cause your blood vessels to constrict. Peripheral cyanosis is most often caused by cold weather. The term cyanotic heart disease refers to a group of congenital present at birth heart defects that cause cyanosis in infants and children. Not all heart or lung disease is linked with cyanosis.
Not having cyanosis may be reassuring, but it does not exclude the possibility of a heart defect. Cyanosis in congenital heart defects results when blue blood oxygen poor does not reach the lungs to make red blood, or when red blood oxygen rich is mixed with blue blood before it returns to the body. This can result from a variety of reasons and is specific to the type of congenital heart defect. Some examples are:. Parents can usually recognize cyanosis, but it is not always easy, even for doctors.
This is especially true in children of darker complexions. The best way to look for cyanosis is to look at the nail beds, lips and tongue, and to compare them to someone with a similar complexion. Usually a parent or sibling serves as a good comparison. First, don't panic.
Second, examine your child. Cyanosis found only on the hands, the feet and the area around the lips is known as acrocyanosis and is a normal finding in babies. Cyanosis on the lips, tongue, head or torso is central cyanosis, and should be promptly evaluated by a doctor. It depends.
First, your doctor will likely gather more historical information, examine your child and get an oxygen saturation measurement. This test will definitively determine if the level of oxygen is normal or low.
Depending on the findings your doctor may be able to provide reassurance, or they may decide that further evaluation or a consultation is necessary. Your doctor may also decide that a consultation with a specialist is in order. Depending on the findings, they may request the services of a heart or lung specialist, the emergency room, or doctors specialized in intensive care.
If there is a primary lung or heart issue, cyanosis will go away when the child has the underlying condition treated either medically or surgically. All rights reserved. Health Library.
Cyanosis in Infants and Children Cyanosis refers to a bluish-purple hue to the skin. Causes of Cyanosis Central cyanosis occurs because blood changes color based on the presence or absence of oxygen.
Red blood is oxygen rich, but blood with decreased oxygen turns blue or purple. These blood cells are bright red and the skin is pinkish or red. Blood that has lost its oxygen is dark bluish-red. People whose blood is low in oxygen tend to have a bluish color to their skin. This condition is called cyanosis. Depending on the cause, cyanosis may develop suddenly, along with shortness of breath and other symptoms. Cyanosis that is caused by long-term heart or lung problems may develop slowly.
Symptoms may be present, but are often not severe. In dark-skinned people, cyanosis may be easier to see in the mucous membranes lips, gums, around the eyes and nails. People with cyanosis do not normally have anemia low blood count. Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells.
Most cyanosis occurs because of a lack of oxygen in the blood. This can be caused by the following problems. For cyanosis caused by exposure to cold or Raynaud phenomenon, dress warmly when going outside or stay in a well-heated room. Bluish skin can be a sign of many serious medical problems.
Call or visit your health care provider. For adults, contact your doctor or call the local emergency number, such as if you have bluish skin and any of the following:. For children, contact the doctor or call the local emergency number, such as if your child has bluish skin and any of the following:.
0コメント