Cyanosis is a medical symptom of bluish color to the skin or mucus membranes that is usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood.
The red blood cells are bright red in color; as a result the normal skin has a pinkish or red hue.
Blood that has no more or low oxygen is dark bluish-red.
People whose blood is low in oxygen are likely to have a bluish color to their skin, called cyanosis.
Cyanosis may arise suddenly, along with shortness of breath and other symptoms.
Cyanosis that is produced by long-term heart or lung problems may develop slowly.
The cyanosis may be present, but is often not severe.
The cyanosis may be difficult to detect when the oxygen levels have dropped only a small amount.
Cyanosis in the mucus membranes (lips, gums, around the eyes) and nails can be seen easier especially in dark-skinned people.
Cyanosis present in only one area of the body may be due to:
1. A blood clot (thrombosis) that blocks the blood supply to a foot, hand, leg, or arm
2. Raynaud phenomenon
Most cyanosis happens because of insufficient oxygen in the blood.
This can be due to:
1. Disorders with the lungs:
2. Blood thrombosis or clot in the arteries of the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
3. Drowning or near-drowning
4. High altitude
5. Infection in the smallest air passages in the children’s lungs (bronchiolitis)
6. Prolonged lung problems such as interstitial lung disease, asthma and COPD
7. Pneumonia (severe)
Medical history is:
1. Time blue color appear
2. Develop slowly or fast
3. Blue appearance of lips or nails
4. Difficulty in taking a deep breath or the breathing is getting faster, or harder.
5. The need to lean forward when sitting to breathe
Diagnosis is by:
1. Arterial blood gas analysis
2. Blood oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry
3. Chest x-ray
Bluish skin (cyanosis) can be a sign of many dangerous medical disorders.
In emergency situations (such as shock), the patient will be stabilized first.
For shortness of breath and cyanosis, the best treatment is oxygen

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Cyanosis
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Raynaud’s Syndrome
Chapter 8 Congenital Heart Disease
Epilogue