Many people have repeatedly encountered such an ailment as cyanosis. What is it, what is the etiology of the disease, its characteristic symptoms and effective treatments? Cyanosis is a disease in which the mucous membranes and skin become bluish. Skin cyanosis occurs as a result of an increase in the concentration of pathological hemoglobin in the blood (at a rate of up to 30 g / l, more than 50 g / l is diagnosed).
Causes of central cyanosis
The reason for the appearance of central cyanosis is a small amount of oxygen entering the blood. If the heart is functioning properly, it pumps blood into the lungs, which there acquires a rich red color and is enriched with oxygen. In case of malfunctions in the work of the cardiovascular system, the blood, having not received the necessary amount of oxygen, is not able to deliver it in sufficient volume to the cells of the whole organism. As a result of this, hypoxia develops, or, in other words, a lack of oxygen, one of the main manifestations of which is cyanosis of the skin. The occurrence of central cyanosis may be associated with heart disease, respiratory diseases, intoxication, due to which the formation of methemoglobin occurs.
Reasonsperipheral cyanosis
Peripheral cyanosis, which is a bluish discoloration of the extremities or skin of the face, develops as a result of circulatory disorders. In the capillaries, blood flow slows down significantly, as a result of which the tissues receive more oxygen than they need, and the blood is saturated with carbon dioxide.
Often this disease occurs due to thrombophlebitis of the extremities, less often due to hypothermia. Diseases of the respiratory system can also cause disease. So, cyanosis is diagnosed with poor gas exchange, as well as in patients suffering from acute bronchiolitis and bronchial asthma, leading to impaired bronchial patency. Under the influence of all the indicated ailments, thrombosis occurs in the pulmonary artery system, resulting in circulatory disorders.
Causes of cyanosis in children
- Central cyanosis in children, occurring shortly after birth, is usually associated with congenital heart defects.
- Respiratory central cyanosis occurs with stenosing croup, aspiration asphyxia, hyaline membrane disease, pneumonia, atelectasis of the lungs and other bronchopulmonary diseases.
- Cyanosis observed in babies with intracranial hemorrhages and cerebral edema is called cerebral.
- Occurrence of metabolic cyanosis is associated with methemoglobinemia and is diagnosed with neonatal tetany (calcium content in the blood serum is less than 2 mmol/l) and hyperphosphatemia.
Symptomatics
Severity of central cyanosis maybe different. The disease can manifest itself from a slightly cyanotic shade of the tongue and lips with an ash-gray shade of the skin to a blue-violet, blue-red or blue-black color of the skin of the whole body. Most clearly, central cyanosis is noticeable in areas of the body with thin skin (lips, face, tongue), as well as on mucous membranes. The first signs of central cyanosis are periorbital cyanosis and cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle.
Peripheral cyanosis is manifested by a bluish tinge to areas of the body, usually the most distant from the heart. The disease is well expressed on the hands, feet, ears, tip of the nose and lips.
Depending on the cause of the underlying disease, cyanosis can be accompanied by various symptoms: severe coughing, holding your breath, rapid pulse and heartbeat, weakness, fever, blue nails.
Diagnosis
Cyanosis - what kind of ailment it is and how it manifests itself, we found out. However, it is necessary to judge the presence of the disease only after the potential patient has completed a full course of examination.
When diagnosing cyanosis, look for:
- taking drugs that cause the formation of pathological hemoglobin derivatives;
- time of symptom onset;
- signs of peripheral and central and cyanosis.
To determine the concentration of oxygen in the blood, an analysis of arterial blood gases is called. Studies of blood flow, heart and lung functions,as well as X-ray examination will determine the cause of the reduced oxygen content in the blood and the resulting cyanosis.
If you suspect cyanosis of the lips that has arisen in a newborn, to diagnose the disease, you must visit a pediatric neurologist, cardio-rheumatologist, and also do an ultrasound of the thymus and heart.
Features of treatment
When diagnosed with cyanosis, that this disease requires treatment, there is no doubt in patients. Treatment should be based on the treatment of the underlying disease. Thus, the severity of the bluish tint of the skin will decrease as the effectiveness of the prescribed measures.
Directly, cyanosis is treated with an oxygen mask or tent, which helps oxygenate the blood. The more effective this method is, the faster the blueness of the skin will decrease. The attending physician will prescribe drugs whose action is aimed at alleviating the cause of cyanosis and eliminating the disease.
Cyanosis - what kind of skin condition is this and what it can indicate, everyone should know. Taking into account the seriousness of the causes that gave rise to the skin condition in question, it is better not to hesitate to contact a specialist for treatment.
