Many people have often encountered such an ailment as cyanosis. What is it, what is the etiology of the disease, its characteristic symptoms and effective methods of treatment? Cyanosis is a disease in which the mucous membranes and skin become cyanotic. Skin cyanosis occurs as a result of an increase in the concentration of pathological hemoglobin in the blood (with a norm 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 functions correctly, then it pumps blood into the lungs, which there acquires a saturated red color and is enriched with oxygen. In case of malfunctions 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 body. 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 can be associated with heart disease, respiratory diseases, intoxication, due to which the formation of methemoglobin occurs.
Causes of peripheral cyanosis
Peripheral cyanosis, which is a blueness of the limbs or facial skin, develops as a result of circulatory disorders. In the capillaries, the blood flow slows down significantly, as a result of which the tissues receive a greater amount of oxygen than they need, and the blood is saturated with carbon dioxide.
Often this ailment 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 a violation of bronchial obstruction. Under the influence of all the indicated ailments, thromboses occur in the pulmonary artery system, leading to a violation of blood circulation.
Causes of cyanosis in children
- Central cyanosis in children, which occurs shortly after birth, is usually associated with congenital heart defects.
- Respiratory central cyanosis is noted with stenotic croup, aspiration asphyxia, hyaline membrane disease, pneumonia, lung atelectasis and other bronchopulmonary diseases.
- Cyanosis, observed in infants with intracranial hemorrhages and cerebral edema, is called cerebral.
- The occurrence of metabolic cyanosis is associated with methemoglobinemia and is diagnosed with tetany of newborns (serum calcium content of less than 2 mmol / l) and hyperphosphatemia.
Symptomatology
The severity of central cyanosis can be 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. Central cyanosis is most clearly seen in parts of the body with thin skin (lips, face, tongue), as well as on the 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 of 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 cough, shortness of breath, rapid pulse and palpitations, weakness, fever, blue nails.
Diagnostics
Cyanosis - what kind of ailment is it and how does it manifest itself, we found out. However, it is necessary to judge the presence of the disease only after the potential patient undergoes a full course of examination.
When diagnosing cyanosis, you should pay attention to:
- taking drugs that lead to the formation of pathological hemoglobin derivatives;
- time of onset of symptoms;
- signs of peripheral and central and cyanosis.
Determine the concentration of oxygen in the blood is called an analysis of arterial blood gases . Studies of blood flow, heart and lung functions, as well as x-ray examination will allow to find out the cause of the reduced oxygen content in the blood and the resulting cyanosis.
If there is a suspicion of cyanosis of the lips that has arisen in a newborn, it is necessary to visit a pediatric neurologist, cardiac rheumatologist, and an ultrasound of the thymus gland and heart to diagnose the disease.
Treatment features
With a diagnosis of cyanosis that this disease requires treatment, patients have no doubts. The treatment should be based on therapy for the underlying disease. Thus, the severity of bluish skin tone will begin to decrease as the effectiveness of the appointed activities.
Directly, cyanosis is treated with an oxygen mask or tent, which contributes to the saturation of blood oxygen. The more effective this method is, the more rapidly the blue 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 testify to, should everyone know. Taking into account the seriousness of the reasons that gave rise to the considered skin condition, it is better not to hesitate to contact a specialist for prescribing treatment.