The other leading causes of Cyanosis in both adults and newborns include:. On the other hand, patients with chronic obstructive lung disease or COPD often develop cyanosis gradually over many years. To determine if the cyanosis is mild or severe can be done by analyzing the following:.
In general, cyanosis is known to worsen with activity, and only proper resting can one bring it down. Dark skin complexion and the presence of anemia can often make it hard for the parents and doctors alike to recognize signs of mild cyanosis. In situations like these, a purple or blue tongue is the sign of a medical emergency. Seeking emergency medical aid if the tongue is discoloured, appears suddenly or is even seen to be accompanied by:.
Skip to main content. Narayana Health » Cyanosis. NH cares Cyanosis Blue colouration of lips, feet, body :. Diagnosis and treatment. Types of Cyanosis. Central Cyanosis Central Cyanosis is a blue discoloration seen on the tongue and lips, and is due to lower levels of oxygen in the Central arterial blood; caused by cardiac or respiratory disorders. Peripheral Cyanosis Peripheral Cyanosis is a blue or purple skin discoloration of the extremities, viz. Differential Cyanosis Differential or Mixed Cyanosis is diagnosed when the bluish discoloration is present in certain parts of the body and absent in others.
Causes of Cyanosis. Central Cyanosis Causes Central Cyanosis is very often caused by a circulatory or ventilatory issue. Central Cyanosis may be caused by the following issues: 1. Central nervous system related conditions impairing normal ventilation : Intracranial haemorrhage Drug overdose e.
Respiratory system related conditions: Pneumonia Bronchiolitis Bronchospasm e. Cardiovascular disease related conditions: Congenital heart disease Failure of the heart Valvular heart condition Myocardial infarction condition 4. Blood-related conditions: Methemoglobinemia Polycythaemia Congenital Cyanosis 5.
Other conditions: High altitude may trigger off Cyanosis, which may be observed when ascending to altitudes over mts Hypothermia Obstructive sleep apnea Peripheral Cyanosis Causes Peripheral Cyanosis is a bluish tint observed in the fingers or toes, caused by suboptimal or restricted blood circulation.
Peripheral Cyanosis could sometimes occur due to the following: All the common causes of Central Cyanosis Reduced cardiac output e. Peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud phenomenon Venous obstruction e. Symptoms of Cyanosis. Age-related and the nature of Cyanosis onset: Cyanosis caused by congenital heart disease, which in turn causes anatomical right-to-left shunts, that may have been prevalent from birth or the early years of life.
Acute onset ofCyanosis, which could be caused by conditions like pulmonary emboli, cardiac failure, pneumonia or asthma. People suffering from COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease may develop Cyanosis over time and an associated condition called polycythaemia may exacerbate the intensity of Cyanosis. Associated symptoms: Pain in the chest : Cyanosis that is associated with pleuritic chest pains could be caused by pulmonary embolism or pneumonia.
Pulmonary oedema could cause dull, painful chest tightness. Dyspnoea: this is a condition that may suddenly occur in conjunction with pulmonary emboli, pulmonary oedema or asthma. Gasping for or shortness of breathing difficulties Fever Headache Profuse sweating profusely Pain or numbness in the arms, legs, hands, fingers, or toes Paling or whitening of the arms, legs, hands, fingers, or toes Dizziness or fainting. Temperature: conditions like pneumonia and pulmonary emboli that could be with pyrexia.
The patient will also exhibit symptoms like: Central Cyanosis - this condition produces a bluish discolouration, specially noticed on the mucous membranes of the lips, tongue, fingers and toes. Peripheral Cyanosis - this condition affects the fingers, toes and skin surrounding the lips, is not noticed around mucous membranes.
A combination of clubbing and Cyanosis is frequent observed in congenital heart disease; it may be prevalent in pulmonary diseases, like lung abscess, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis; as also in pulmonary arteriovenous shunts. Pressure in the jugular venous system increases with congestive cardiac failure. After a respiratory examination: Poor chest expansion is a condition that is noticed in patients with chronic bronchitis, and asthma.
Reduced chest expansion may be noticed with conditions like lobar pneumonia. Dullness to percussion is sometimes noticed in an area of consolidation. Crepitation that is localised may sometimes be heard in conditions like lobar pneumonia.
Crepitation is often more likely in conditions like bronchopneumonia and pulmonary oedema. Entry of air may be low with conditions like COPD or asthma. Bronchial breathing may be affected and wheezing sounds may sometimes be heard, in conditions like asthma. Abnormal heart sounds that are sometimes heard, may suggest origins in the cardiac area.
Diagnosis of Cyanosis. Apart from the clinical assessment of hypoxemia, the diagnosis of Cyanosis may also include the following investigations: Arterial Blood Gas test: measures the acidity and levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in your blood. Complete Blood Count: Haemoglobin levels are increased with the prevalence of chronic Cyanosis. The white cell count increases in conditions like pneumonia and pulmonary embolism. ECG: Taken to completely rule out the prevalence of cardiac abnormalities.
Chest X-ray: the is taken to rule out conditions like pneumonia, pulmonary infarction and cardiac failure. Ventilation-perfusion scan or Pulmonary Angiography is taken to rule out pulmonary causes Echocardiography will serve to look for the presence of any cardiac defects. Haemoglobin spectroscopy will look for methemoglobinemia, or sulfhemoglobinemia. Digital Subtraction Angiography: is done to completely rule out conditions like acute arterial occlusion.
A duplex Doppler or Venography can detect the prevalence of acute venous occlusion. Cyanosis Treatment. There are some medications that can help blood vessels relax. These include: antidepressants antihypertensive drugs erectile dysfunction drugs You may also need to avoid certain medications that constrict blood vessels as a side effect.
These include types of: beta-blockers migraine medications birth control pills pseudoephedrine-based cold and allergy medicines Serious medical situations, such as heart or pulmonary related conditions, should be treated in a hospital as an emergency.
It may suggest a problem with the lungs or heart. Cyanosis is a finding based on what is seen, not by a laboratory test. It can also be seen on the skin around the lips. Acrocyanosis is often normal in babies, as long as no cyanosis is present in the central part of the body.
Children may have acrocyanosis when they are cold such as swimming in cold water but it should resolve once they are warmed up. Central cyanosis is never normal in the newborn period, and is almost always linked to a lower amount of oxygen in the blood.
It could be due to a problem of the heart, lungs or blood. Cyanosis is usually caused by abnormalities of the heart, the lungs or the blood. Under normal conditions, after receiving oxygen from the lungs, red oxygen rich blood is delivered from the heart to the rest of the body. When it returns to the heart, the blue oxygen poor blood is shipped to the lungs to collect more oxygen.
Abnormalities in the lungs can prevent oxygen from entering the blood, which can lead to cyanosis. Some examples of lung abnormalities that can lead to cyanosis include:. Typically, blue blood oxygen poor returns to the right side of the heart and is pumped to the lungs where it receives oxygen and turns red. The red blood oxygen rich then goes to the left side of the heart and is pumped to the body.
As blood circulates through the body, organs take oxygen away and make it turn blue. The blue blood then returns to the right side of the heart and back to the lungs to receive oxygen and become red again. 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. Your provider will perform a physical examination.
This will include listening to your breathing and heart sounds. In emergency situations such as shock , you will be stabilized first. The treatment you receive depends on the cause of cyanosis. For example, you may receive oxygen for shortness of breath. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap McGee S. In: McGee S, ed. Evidence-Based Physical Diagnosis. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap 9. Harron, Jr.
Editorial team. Blue discoloration of the skin. When the oxygen level has dropped only a small amount, cyanosis may be hard to detect. Problems with the lungs: Blood clot in the arteries of the lungs pulmonary embolism Drowning or near-drowning High altitude Infection in the smallest air passages in the lungs of children, called bronchiolitis Long-term lung problems that become more severe, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD , asthma , and interstitial lung disease Pneumonia severe Problems with the airways leading to the lungs: Breath-holding although this is exceedingly difficult to do Choking on something stuck in the airways Swelling around the vocal cords croup Inflammation of the flap of tissue, called the epiglottis, that covers the windpipe epiglottitis Problems with the heart: Heart defects that are present at birth congenital Heart failure Heart stops working cardiac arrest Other problems: Drug overdose narcotics, benzodiazepines, sedatives Exposure to cold air or water Seizure that lasts a long time Toxins such as cyanide.
When to Contact a Medical Professional. What to Expect at Your Office Visit.
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