Why are there so many blue spots on the baby's body?

Babies are very cute. Their skin is delicate and elastic. Many people like to touch babies. Because babies' skin is too delicate, bruises may sometimes occur without notice. Most of the time, the cause is due to careless bumps, but some serious diseases can also cause this situation, which requires the attention of parents. Next, let’s take a look at the reasons why cyanosis occurs on babies’ skin.

First of all, we need to determine which category the cyanosis belongs to, whether it is physiological or pathological, peripheral or central. Physiological cyanosis is temporary and disappears over time, and there is no sign of organic disease. If the cyanosis is limited to areas with lower body temperature such as the extremities, earlobes, and nose tip, and the cyanosis disappears after keeping warm and improving microcirculation, it is peripheral cyanosis. If the skin, conjunctiva, oral mucosa and tongue are widely cyanotic and do not disappear after warming and improving local circulation, it is central cyanosis.

If central cyanosis has been confirmed clinically, the cause should be further investigated through medical history inquiry, physical examination and auxiliary examinations.

1. Respiratory diseases

Pay attention to the presence and degree of breathing difficulties, such as the number, depth, rhythm, and three-recess sign of breathing. Cyanosis caused by respiratory diseases may be relieved after inhaling 100% oxygen. Further examination of lung signs and chest X-ray examination can confirm the diagnosis.

2. Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

If there is no concurrent lung disease, there is usually no obvious dyspnea, and the cyanosis cannot be relieved by oxygen inhalation at normal pressure, a further high oxygen-high ventilation test for 10 minutes can be performed. If the arterial oxygen partial pressure increases and the pH value rises, this disease is considered.

Cyanotic congenital heart disease is often accompanied by heart murmurs, but this is not always the case. Therefore, when the disease is suspected, a cardiac ultrasound examination should be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

4. Other reasons

(1) Methemoglobinemia: Children with this disease have cyanosis, but the arterial oxygen tension is normal.

(2) In addition to cyanosis, children with polycythemia have redder skin and may have symptoms such as irritability, drowsiness, and apnea. The blood oxygen saturation is reduced, but the oxygen partial pressure may be normal.

(3) Central nervous system diseases such as neonatal intracranial hemorrhage and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy may cause cyanosis due to respiratory depression.

1. Physiological cyanosis does not require treatment.

2. For peripheral cyanosis, local warming should be strengthened. For children with heart failure or shock, cardiac function should be improved and shock and microcirculation disorders should be corrected.

3. The cause of central cyanosis should be identified and treated accordingly. For example, patients with persistent pulmonary hypertension should be given high-frequency ventilation or nitric oxide inhalation. Patients with lung diseases should receive active related treatment. Congenital heart disease can be treated surgically at the right time.