Cyanosis
Cyanosis is the condition where the skin of a person turns blue or purplish due to reduced oxygen. This bluish color is noticed mostly on the lips, fingers and toes. It is the result of circulatory or heart problems. It is indicative of too little oxygen in the blood. Cyanosistic heart disease is characterised by bluish or grayish skin, tiredness and puffy eyes. Chest pain and fainting might occur.
Causes of cyanosis
Diagnostic tests such as chest x-ray, complete blood count, ECG, Heart MRI, Cardiac catherization and pulse oximeter might be done to ascertain the problem leading to cyanosis. Some congenital heart diseases might need surgery to rectify any birth defect.
Mountain sickness
Mountain sickness or altitude sickness occurs as a result of lower oxygen at higher altitude along with reduced air pressure. It is a series of symptoms such as dizziness, headache, nausea and loss of appetite. Mountain sickness happens with those who have tried to reach faster. If a person suffering from a severe episode of altitude sickness, problems such as shortness of breath, cyanosis, chest constriction and inability to walk might be noticed. It is easier to treat the early signs of mountain sickness. Returning to lower altitude is the safest step. Additional oxygen must be given. Severe symptoms that might arise are pulmonary edema, cerebral edema or retinal hemorrhage. Rest and oxygen usually helps most persons suffering mountain sickness. Aspirin can be taken for headache but sleeping medications must not be taken as they can slow down breathing. A diuretic like Acetazolamide is prescribed. High altitude edema is best treated with Nifedipine.
Epiglottitis
Epiglottitis is a serious condition that can affect children and adults. In children, epiglottitis can be life-threatening and usually manifests between 2 and 6 years. In adults, it is more likely to affect men than women. Earlier there were more number of pediatric epiglottitis cases. But with the introduction of the HIB vaccine, cases of children being affected by this condition has reduced. This condition occurs when the flap of cartillage found at the back of the tongue (epiglottis) swells can causes respiratory distress. The epiglottis serves to keep food from going into the trachea while swallowing. An inflamed epiglottis can result in swallowing problems and difficulty in breathing. The patient suffers fever and chills and may develop a bluish skin coloring (cyanosis). If the airways become totally obstructed, it can be fatal. Sore throat, difficulty in speaking and difficulty in swallowing and breathing are typical symptoms of epiglottitis that occur within a few hours. Persons affected by this condition tend to lean forward to breathe and appear restless.
Epiglottitis is believed to be caused by vrirus such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, varicella-zoster, herpes simplex virus type 1 and Staphylococcus aureus. Any damage to the epiglottis can also cause this condition. While mild cases of epiglottitis manifest as sore throat and pain while swallowing, acute cases can suffer severe respiratory distress or even a respiratory arrest. Physical examination and study of medical history is the first step towards diagnosing epiglottitis. X-ray of the neck and blood tests are also conducted. If there is severe discomfort and labored breathing, hospitalization may be necessary. Humified oxygen helps alleviate some of the distress while intravenous fluids keep the patient well hydrated. Antibiotics and corticosteroids are used to treat the condition. Intravenous (IV) antibiotics are adminstered to treat the infection.
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