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Symptom: Cyanosis



Introduction: Cyanosis

Further information about Cyanosis is below, or review more specific information about these types of Cyanosis: blue skin, purple skin, Ankle blueness, Arm blueness, Back blueness, Breast blueness, Buttock blueness, Calf blueness or other types.

Cyanosis is a severe condition indicating a lack of oxygen in the blood supply. This can arise due to various severe illnesses that inhibit circulation or oxygen takeup. Localized cyanosis can also occur in areas of poor circulation such as the hands and fingers in Raynaud's phenomenon. Cyanosis may also be described as purple skin or dark skin in some cases. Any form of cyanosis needs medical investigation.

» Review Causes of Cyanosis: full list

Causes of Cyanosis:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Cyanosis. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

See full list of 269 causes of Cyanosis

» Review Causes of Cyanosis: full list

Causes of Types of Cyanosis:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Cyanosis:

See full list of 53 types for Cyanosis

Cyanosis: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Cyanosis, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

See full list of 1106 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Cyanosis

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Cyanosis

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Cyanosis:

Diagnostic Guides for Cyanosis

12 MEDICAL SYMPTOM BOOKS: FULL TEXT ONLINE! Read the full text of published book sections related to Cyanosis from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Cyanosis. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Cyanosis

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Full text. Free access (no registration).
  • "In a Page: Signs and Symptoms"
  • "In a Page: Signs and Symptoms"
  • "In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms"
  • "In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms"
  • "In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms"
  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care"
  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)"
  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)"
  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)"
  • "A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis"
  • "A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis"
  • "Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition)"
  • "Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition)"
  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)"
  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)"
  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)"
  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)"
  • "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter"
  • "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter"
  • "Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis"
  • "Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis"
  • "Handbook of Diseases"
  • "Handbook of Diseases"
  • "Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series"
  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses"
  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses"
  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses"
  • "The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics"
  • "The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics"
  • "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms"
  • "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms"
  • "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms"

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic tests for Cyanosis:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Cyanosis. Some of these are listed below :

  • Physical examination
    • Temperature, Blood pressure and pulse rate - to assess possible shock.
    • Cardiovascular examination for murmur or enlarged heart - may suggest rheumatic carditis, congenital heart disease or congestive heart failure.
    • Examine for reduced or absent peripheral pulses, cool peripheries, absence of hairs on peripheries to diagnose peripheral vascular disease
    • Examine respiratory system for any lung causes of cyanosis

See full list of 20 diagnostic tests for Cyanosis

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Cyanosis. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

  • How long have you noticed that you have cyanosis? - to determine if acute or chronic.
  • Is the cyanosis central or peripheral? - Central cyanosis means that there is an abnormal amount of hemoglobin in the arterial blood without oxygen and the blue discoloration is present in parts of the body with good circulation such as the tongue. Peripheral cyanosis occurs when the blood supply to a certain part of the body is reduced e.g. lips in cold weather are blue but the tongue is spared. If central cyanosis is the problem must consider a problem with the cardiovascular or respiratory system.
  • Is it localized or generalized?
  • If generalized, which areas of the body does it affect?
  • Is the blueness limited to one limb? - may suggest an arterial or venous thrombosis.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Cyanosis (18 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Cyanosis) may include:

  • Blue tongue? - may indicate central cyanosis which is due to a lack of oxygenated hemoglobin in the blood vessels and thus may indicate high altitude, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary embolism, cyanotic congenital heart disease, polycythaemia or hemoglobin abnormalities. Any cause of central cyanosis can also cause peripheral cyanosis and thus blue skin.
  • Blue peripheries? - may indicate exposure to cold, left ventricular failure, shock, arterial obstruction, venous obstruction or any of the causes of central cyanosis.
  • Significant shortness of breath? - should consider a lung or heart origin for the cyanosis e.g. cyanotic congenital heart disease, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary emphysema or asthma.
  • Stridor? - may suggest croup, foreign body.
  • Symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon (if blue hands)? - e.g. sequential discoloration of the digits from pallor to blueness to redness upon exposure to cold. When fingers become red they are painful.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Cyanosis (18 listings)

Stories from Users for Cyanosis

Real-life user stories relating to Cyanosis:

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Cyanosis or relevant symptoms:

Videos for Cyanosis

Rituxan: NHL Treatment

Rituxan: NHL TreatmentIn recent years, the drug Rituxan has become a well-established option only for certain forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) There are other...

 
See full list of 1 related videos

Patient Surveys for Cyanosis

Causes of Cyanosis listed in Disease Database:

Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Cyanosis as a symptom include:

See full list of 269 causes of Cyanosis
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Medications or substances causing Cyanosis:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Cyanosis as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

See full list of 6 medications causing Cyanosis

Definitions of Cyanosis:

Cyanosis: A dark bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin and mucous membrane due to deficient oxygenation of the blood, evident when reduced hemoglobin in the blood exceeds 5 g/100 mL. [G. dark blue color, fr. kyanos, blue substance]
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Blueness of the skin caused by excessive amounts of deoxyhemoglobin in the skin vessels.
- (Source - Diseases Database)

A bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes; a sign that oxygen in the blood is dangerously diminished (as in carbon monoxide poisoning)
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Blueness of the skin caused by excessive amounts of deoxyhemoglobin in the skin vessels.
- (Source - CRISP)

Organs affected by Cyanosis:

The list of organs typically affected by Cyanosis may include, but is not limited to:

Detailed list of causes of Cyanosis

The list below shows some of the causes of Cyanosis mentioned in various sources:

See full list of 269 causes of Cyanosis

How Common are these Causes of Cyanosis?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Cyanosis. Of the 269 causes of Cyanosis that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

  • 12 causes are "very common" diseases
  • 8 causes are "common" diseases
  • 2 causes are "uncommon" diseases
  • 1 causes are "rare" diseases
  • 18 causes are "very rare" diseases
  • 246 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 269 causes of Cyanosis

Conditions listing symptoms: Cyanosis:

The following list of conditions have 'Cyanosis' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

A

  • Aberrant subclavian artery abnormality ... cyanosis
  • Accelerated silicosis ... bluish skin
  • Acid-Base Imbalance ... cyanosis
  • Acrocyanosis ... blue and cold hands
  • Acrodynia ... cyanosis
  • Acrofacial dysostosis Rodriguez type ... cyanotic heart disease
  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome, Infant ... blue skin
  • Acute Silicosis ... bluish skin
  • Adrenal hemorrhage, neonatal ... cyanosis
  • Adult respiratory distress syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Airway Obstruction ... cyanosis
  • Al Gazali Aziz Salem syndrome ... cyanotic heart disease
  • Alkaptonuria ... bluish ear cartilage, blue-black discoloration of areas of skin, bluish darkened skin
  • Alveolar capillary dysplasia ... cyanosis
  • Alveolitis, extrinsic allergic ... cyanosis with prolonged exposure
  • Anophthalmia with pulmonary hypoplasia ... cyanotic heart disease
  • Anoxemia ... cyanosis
  • Aortic arches defect ... cyanosis
  • Asbestos conditions ... Cyanosis
  • Asphyxia ... cyanosis
  • Asphyxia neonatorum ... cyanosis
  • Asthma ... cyanosis
  • Atrial myxoma, familial ... cyanosis, blue skin
  • Autoimmune Myocarditis ... Cyanosis

    B

  • Beau's syndrome ... bluish skin
  • Berylliosis ... cyanosis in chronic cases with prolonged exposure
  • Besnier-Boeck-Schaumann disease ... cyanosis
  • Bindewald-Ulmer-Muller syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Blue baby ... blueness, cyanosis
  • Blue rubber bleb nevus ... blue-black hemangiomas
  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia ... episodic cyanosis

    C

  • Carbamate insecticide poisoning ... cyanosis
  • Cardiac malformation ... cyanosis
  • Cast syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Chemical pneumonia ... cyanosis, blue skin
  • Cholesterol pneumonia ... cyanosis
  • Chromosome 22, trisomy ... cyanosis
  • Chronic berylliosis ... cyanosis
  • Chronic Bronchitis ... cyanosis
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ... cyanosis, blue skin, blue nails
  • Comly syndrome ... bluish skin, cyanosis
  • Congenital arteriovenous shunt ... cyanosis
  • Congenital cardiovascular malformations ... cyanosis
  • Congenital diaphragmatic hernia ... cyanosis
  • Congenital heart defects ... cyanosis, blue skin
  • Congenital heart septum defect ... bluish skin
  • Congenital mitral malformation ... cyanosis
  • Congenital tracheal stenosis ... cyanotic episodes
  • Conotruncal heart malformations ... cyanosis
  • Convulsions, benign familial infantile, 1 ... cyanosis
  • Cor biloculare ... cyanosis
  • Cor Triatriatum ... cyanosis
  • Coronary arteries - congenital malformation ... cyanosis
  • Cushing's syndrome ... reddish-blue stretch marks
  • Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita ... blue marbled skin appearance

    D

  • Dermatomyositis ... bluish purple discolored skin rash, bluish-purple skin rash, bluish-purple skin rash
  • Diaphragmatic hernia, congenital ... cyanosis, blue skin
  • Diphosphoglycerate mutase deficiency of erythrocyte ... cyanosis
  • Double outlet - right ventricle II ... cyanosis
  • Double outlet - right ventricle IV ... cyanosis
  • Dressler (D.)syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Drowning ... cyanosis
  • Ductus arteriosus, patent reversed flow ... cyanosis
  • Duodenal atresia tetralogy of Fallot ... cyanosis

    E

  • Ectopic pregnancy ... bluish discoloration around belly button
  • Eisenmenger Syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Emphysema ... cyanosis, blue skin
  • Emphysema, congenital lobar ... cyanosis in severe forms
  • Epiglotitis ... cyanosis
  • Erythromelalgia ... red or purple skin patches
  • Esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula ... cyanosis
  • Ethylmalonic aciduria ... blue feet, blue hands

    F

  • Fallot syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Familial emphysema ... cyanosis, blue skin
  • Familial interstitial fibrosis ... cyanosis
  • Farmer's lung ... cyanosis
  • Fibrosing alveolitis ... cyanosis

    H

  • Hamman-Rich syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Hashimoto-Pritzker syndrome ... dark brownish-blue nodules
  • Heart attack ... cyanosis
  • Hemangiomatosis, familial pulmonary capillary ... bluish skin
  • HMG-CoA lyase deficiency ... cyanosis

    I

  • Iatrogenic pneumothorax ... Cyanosis
  • Idiopathic diffuse interstitial fibrosis ... cyanosis
  • Idiopathic pulmonary hypertension ... cyanosis
  • Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura ... purplish skin areas
  • Infantile apnea ... cyanosis
  • Insect sting allergies ... Cyanosis
  • Iron poisoning ... Cyanosis
  • Isaacs syndrome ... cyanotic episodes
  • Ivemark Syndrome ... cyanosis

    J

  • Jervell and Lange-Nielsen Syndrome ... cyanosis

    K

  • Kaposi sarcoma ... dark brown skin macules
  • Kaposi sarcoma, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated form ... dark brown skin macules
  • Kaposi sarcoma, classical indolent form ... dark brown skin macules
  • Kaposi sarcoma, Endemic African form ... dark brown skin macules
  • Kaposi sarcoma, iatrogenic form ... dark brown skin macules
  • Kaposi's Sarcoma ... reddish-purple spots, purple spots, purple spots
  • Kersting-Hellwig syndrome ... blue skin over nodule
  • Kugel-Stoloff syndrome ... cyanosis

    L

  • Laryngeal cleft ... cyanosis
  • Lead poisoning ... blue-grey line along gums in the mouth
  • Lethal chondrodysplasia, Moerman type ... cyanotic heart disease
  • Levotransposition of the great arteries ... cyanosis
  • Lichen planus ... blue areas on the tongue, blue areas inside cheeks
  • Limb transversal defect - cardiac anomaly ... cyanotic heart disease
  • Lissencephaly ... cyanotic infant
  • Lupus ... cyanosis
  • Lymphangiomatosis, pulmonary ... cyanosis

    M

  • Marie-Bamberg syndrome ... cyanotic nails
  • Meadows syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Meconium aspiration syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Melioidosis ... cyanosis
  • Mendelson syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Methahemoglobinemia ... blue cheeks, cyanosis, blue nails
  • Methemoglobinemia, beta-globin type ... bluish area under fingernails, bluish skin, cyanosis
  • Microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism, type 1 ... cyanotic attacks
  • Microphthalmia syndromic, type 9 ... cyanotic heart disease
  • Mitral atresia ... blue skin
  • Mountain sickness ... cyanosis
  • Mycosis fungoides ... bluish-red elevated skin plaques, bluish ulcerated lesions
  • Mycosis fungoides, familial ... bluish-red elevated skin plaques, bluish ulcerated lesions

    N

  • Necrotizing fasciitis ... violet skin
  • Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Neonatal sepsis ... cyanosis

    O

  • Organophosphate insecticide poisoning ... cyanosis
  • Osteogenesis imperfecta ... eye blueness

    P

  • Partial atrioventricular canal ... bluish skin
  • Perniosis ... bluish-red skin discoloration
  • Pneumoconiosis ... cyanosis
  • Pneumonia ... cyanosis
  • Pneumonia caused by serotype O11 Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ... bluish skin
  • Pneumonia, Aspiration ... bluish skin
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial ... bluish skin
  • Pneumonia, Staphylococcal ... bluish skin
  • Primary pulmonary hypertension ... cyanosis
  • Pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 ... cyanotic attacks upon exposure to increased temperature
  • Pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1, autosomal dominant ... cyanotic attacks upon exposure to increased temperature
  • Pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1, autosomal recessive ... cyanotic attacks upon exposure to increased temperature
  • Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis ... cyanosis
  • Pulmonary arterio-veinous aneurysm ... cyanosis
  • Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula ... cyanosis
  • Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation ... blue skin
  • Pulmonary atresia - intact ventricular septum ... blue skin
  • Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect ... cyanosis, blue skin
  • Pulmonary cystic lymphangiectasis ... cyanosis
  • Pulmonary edema ... cyanosis
  • Pulmonary edema of mountaineers ... cyanosis
  • Pulmonary embolism ... cyanosis
  • Pulmonary venous return anomaly ... cyanosis

    R

  • Raynaud's phenomenon ... skin whiteness then blueness then redness, Cyanosis (blueness)
  • Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome ... cyanotic skin
  • Respiratory acidosis ... cyanosis
  • Respiratory distress syndrome, infant ... cyanosis
  • Right ventricle hypoplasia ... cyanosis

    S

  • Sakati syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Sarcoidosis ... purple skin patches
  • Sepsis ... Cyanosis
  • Shaken Baby Syndrome ... bluish skin
  • Shaver's disease ... cyanosis
  • Shock ... cyanosis
  • Silicosiderosis ... bluish skin
  • Silicosis ... bluish skin
  • Sneddon Syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Spontaneous pneumothorax, familial type ... bluish skin
  • Streptococcal Group B invasive disease ... blue skin
  • Stridor ... Cyanosis
  • Subpulmonary stenosis ... bluish skin
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome ... Cyanosis
  • Suffocation ... Cyanosis
  • Superior vena cava syndrome ... cyanosis of shoulder, cyanosis of neck, cyanosis hydrothorax, cyanosis larynx, cyanosis pharynx, cyanosis of face

    T

  • Taussig Bing syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Tracheal stenosis syndrome ... cyanotic episodes
  • Tracheoesophageal fistula without esophageal atresia ... cyanosis with feeding
  • Truncus Arteriosus ... cyanosis, blue skin
  • Twisted atrioventricular connections ... cyanosis

    U

  • Unilateral pulmonary agenesis ... cyanosis

    V

  • Vascular malposition ... Cyanosis
  • Vein of Galen aneurysm ... Cyanosis
  • Velocardiofacial syndrome ... Cyanosis
  • Ventricular septal defect ... Cyanosis
  • Ventriculo-arterial discordance, isolated ... Cyanosis
  • VLCAD deficiency ... Cyanosis

    W

  • Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome ... Cyanosis
  • Waterhouse-Friederichsen syndrome ... cyanosis
  • Weinstein Kliman Scully syndrome ... Cyanosis
  • Western equine encephalitis ... Cyanosis
  • Wheezing ... Cyanosis
  • Whooping Cough ... Blue or purple (cyanosis), Cyanosis

    Conditions listing complications: Cyanosis:

    The following list of conditions have 'Cyanosis' or similar listed as a complication in our database. The distinction between a symptom and complication is not always clear, and conditions mentioning this symptom as a complication may also be relevant. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

    B

  • Bronchiolitis ... cyanosis

    C

  • Chemical pneumonia ... cyanosis
  • Croup ... cyanosis

    E

  • Ebstein's anomaly ... cyanosis

    P

  • Pierre Robin's sequence ... cyanosis

    Join in at the forums

    Ask or answer a question about symptoms or diseases at one of our free interactive user forums.

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  • Causes of Cyanosis Based on Risk Factors

    This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Cyanosis based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient:

  • Travel - has the patient travelled recently?
  • Diabetes - history of diabetes or family history of diabetes?

    Doctors and specialists: Who should I consult about Cyanosis?

    Depending on the seriousness of the onset of Cyanosis, you may want to consult one of the following medical professionals.
    Important:In extreme cases, always seek advice from emergency services :

    What are the alternative names for Cyanosis:

    Cyanotic
    - (Source - Diseases Database)

    Classifications of Cyanosis:

    Subtypes of Cyanosis:

    Blue skin (189 causes), Purple skin (6 causes), Ankle blueness, Arm blueness, Back blueness, Breast blueness, Buttock blueness, Calf blueness, Chest blueness, Chin blueness, Ear blueness, Elbow blueness, Eye blueness (1 cause), Eyelid blueness, Facial blueness, Finger blueness (3 causes), Fingernail blueness, Knee blueness, Leg blueness, Nipple blueness, Nose blueness, Wrist blueness, Blue hands (2 causes)

    Medical Conditions associated with Cyanosis:

    Skin symptoms (1808 causes), Skin color changes (711 causes), Blue skin (189 causes), Skin problems (1659 causes)

    Symptoms related to Cyanosis:

    Purple skin (6 causes), Dark skin (76 causes), Skin color changes (711 causes), Redness (190 causes), Whitening (37 causes), Pallor (269 causes), Breathing difficulty (865 causes), Breathing symptoms (1072 causes), Circulation symptoms (15 causes)

    Cyanosis as a disease:

    You may also want to research other Diseases in our Disease Center.

    Medical articles on signs and symptoms:

    Doctor-patient articles related to symptoms and diagnosis:

    These general medical articles may be of interest:

    See full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

    Medical News summaries about Cyanosis

    Our news pages contain the following medical news summaries about Cyanosis and many other medical conditions:


    More Ways To Research Medical Signs and Symptoms:


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