Why does the baby's nasolabial turn blue. Causes of blue lips in children

  • Date: 21.04.2019

Typically, a newborn is examined by doctors to determine possible deviations in his physical health... There may be several reasons for concern: disruption of the nervous system or of cardio-vascular system... But this can not always be determined immediately. Therefore, at the first examination, the pediatrician asks the mother if the child has a cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle or chin trembling. What is the reason for this?

What is the reason?

An experienced specialist will immediately refer you to a cardiologist if a blue nasolabial triangle is observed in a child. Such symptoms may indicate a congenital heart disease. If the condition is very serious, then even the arms and legs of the baby may be blue. The oval window in the heart is not overgrown, and venous blood is constantly mixed with arterial blood. The baby is very excited, the venous blood as a result is in the artery, the oxygen in the blood becomes less, nasolabial triangle takes on a bluish tint. Often this phenomenon is accompanied by chin tremors. This is especially noticeable during crying. Some babies, plus everything, also have their hands trembling. Such a sight makes the parents nervous, and they go to the pediatrician for help.

Cyanosis and its symptoms

With this disease, the mucous membranes and skin acquire a bluish color. This can be identified with a physical examination. Cyanosis is quite common in those babies who have just been born. In this case, not only the area near the mouth turns blue, but also the nasolabial triangle. If this disease is of respiratory origin, then it is rather mild. The violation becomes noticeable when the child is very worried or cries. This phenomenon is considered normal during the first month of life. Then you need to see a doctor. Often a similar condition can occur during pneumonia, diaphragmatic hernia and other respiratory diseases. Shortness of breath usually accompanies them. Cyanosis manifests itself in seizures, but the skin does not always look pale. This disease is more pronounced if there is severe respiratory distress. Do not lose sight of the fact that a common runny nose can lead to a similar illness, if not focal changes in the lungs themselves. It can also be provoked simply by foreign body that got into the air Airways... Then the child cannot breathe, and the nasolabial triangle begins to turn blue. In this case, you cannot sit still, you need to immediately call an ambulance.

Helping a child

Pediatricians usually prescribe a cardiogram for the child and send it to an appointment with a specialized specialist. If the baby's oval window is not overgrown, but the valve, nevertheless, is, then so that the nasolabial triangle does not turn blue, you need to make sure that the child is less nervous and does not cry. Often, the valve then grows. If it is absent altogether, then an operation to restore it is necessary. But the surgeon must first examine the baby and make sure that he has no contraindications for this. If a child's nasolabial triangle not only turns blue, but his chin also trembles, then you need to contact a neurologist to determine how healthy he is. If the baby is only 2-3 months old, then you shouldn't worry too much. This phenomenon often passes quickly. If not, then it is necessary to treat

Shade of the nasolabial triangle

Some diseases of infants are very difficult to identify by outward signs... That is why during the examination, the pediatrician asks young mothers many questions about sleep, behavior and external changes in the baby. Short-term or prolonged blueing of the nasolabial triangle may be the first signs of a deviation in the work of the cardiovascular system. The real concern for parents should be caused by additional blue discoloration of the child's limbs.


A blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle in children with fair and thin skin can be called a false alarm. Similar effects can appear in the first days of life, even around the eyes.

Heart disease is most often determined by just such symptoms. The blue skin tone appears due to the mixing of two types of blood - arterial and venous. This process is due to a simultaneous decrease in oxygen in the blood. Before the nasolabial triangle turns blue, the child may suddenly become anxious. Sometimes his movements outwardly resemble a strong tremor.

If such a situation has occurred with the baby, then you should immediately consult a doctor. Better to call a specialist at home. During the inspection, you must accurately tell all the details you saw. In addition to dysfunction of the heart, similar symptoms may indicate the presence of diseases of the nervous system or wrong structure cardiac septa. In some cases, surgery is prescribed.

Examination of the child

When a blue skin tone of the nasolabial triangle appears in a child, a special examination complex is assigned to him. First, the baby must be shown to a pediatrician, surgeon and neurologist. Be prepared to undergo an additional ultrasound examination. Only after carrying out all these actions, the baby will be diagnosed.


You should never be silent about any suspicious observation. Be sure to tell your child's doctor about all your concerns.

Blue nasolabial triangle in a healthy child

Quite often, a blue nasolabial triangle appears in perfectly healthy children. The main reason hypothermia may be such an effect. In this situation, pay attention to the air temperature in the room, to the clothes in which the child is. The baby's lips can turn blue, for example, if you bathed him and did not pay attention to the fact that the bathroom and the bedroom are very different.

Most often, the blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle is observed in capricious and restless children. Due to constant emotional stress and crying blood changes occur. The amount of oxygen in it is significantly reduced. This process results in a blue tint to the skin around the nose and above the top.

Moms and dads of newborn children often note that their babies have a blue nasolabial triangle. Moreover, this condition can be observed not only in babies with abnormalities in the work of the nervous, cardiovascular and other body systems, but also in perfectly healthy babies.

Cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle in infant due to a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the blood. The medical name for this phenomenon is cyanosis. Oxygen saturation of 95% is considered normal, however, with crying or strong screaming, its value can drop to 92%. Conventionally, this level of oxygen in the blood can be attributed to pathological conditions.

Blue nasolabial triangle in a healthy baby

In the first month of a child's life, the blue of the nasolabial triangle often appears in the baby. It occurs with prolonged crying or screaming, due to which there is a lack of oxygen in the child's blood. This cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle is also called cyanosis, which is of a pulmonary nature. Gradually, the child grows and matures, the functioning of his organs, blood vessels and systems improves, and such cyanosis completely disappears. In the case when the blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle persists in the baby after several months of life, it is worth informing the pediatrician about this. There is no need to hope that the situation will be resolved by itself, because cyanosis can be caused by any pathology.

Another reason that the baby has a blue nasolabial triangle lies in too transparent and thin skin in this place. Plexuses of veins can shine through it, which gives the skin a slight bluish tint. If blue color of the nasolabial triangle is associated with this moment, then no treatment is required, since the child is healthy.

Blue nasolabial triangle in an infant patient

The blue color of the nasolabial triangle can take on as a result of serious pathologies of the respiratory tract. This phenomenon can be one of the symptoms of pneumonia and other severe respiratory ailments. In such cases, in addition to the cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle, the baby has heavy breathing with shortness of breath, which has a pronounced paroxysmal character, pallor skin etc. If untreated and the course of the disease worsens, attacks of shortness of breath become worse, and the change in skin color is more noticeable. Colds of a viral or bacterial nature can lead to this condition.

Another pathology leading to the blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle in infants is the presence of a foreign object in the respiratory organs. If such symptoms were not previously observed, the baby's breathing is difficult, then it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance, as well as examine the child for foreign bodies in the respiratory tract.

Cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle in infants with pathology

The most common pathological cause the blueness of this area is a congenital heart disease. Heart failure can manifest itself in a similar way. acute form and malformation pulmonary artery... However, only specialists can make all these diagnoses, therefore, if you suspect the presence of such pathologies, you need to consult a doctor. He should be sure to inform about the appearance of the blue of the nasolabial triangle in the baby, especially if it persists for a long enough time.

Into the complex diagnostic activities with cyanosis, an ultrasound of the heart, an ECG, and an X-ray are included chest... If a possible heart defect is excluded, the baby is prescribed a consultation with a neurologist.

In most cases, when visiting this doctor, insufficient development of the respiratory system in infants is revealed. To cope with such a problem, you need to walk more with the child and give him a massage course. Usually at proper care by the first day of the baby's birth, all symptoms disappear, and the problem disappears. But this does not mean that you can independently diagnose and self-medicate. In any case, if the baby's nasolabial triangle turns blue, you need to inform your pediatrician about this and undergo the course of examination prescribed by him.

Parents often note the blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle in newborns. This phenomenon occurs both in absolutely healthy children and in children with disorders in the work of the cardiovascular, nervous and other systems.

Normally, blood oxygen saturation in children reaches 95%, during a cry or cry of a newborn, the indicator can fall to an extreme minimum - 92%. All indicators below the minimum are pathologies. With a decrease in the level of oxygen in the blood of the baby, the nasolabial triangle turns blue. This phenomenon is called cyanosis.

Blue nasolabial triangle in healthy children

In the first weeks of life, a baby may develop blue, which is caused by cyanosis of pulmonary origin. The phenomenon is observed at the time of screaming or crying, when the child's oxygen level in the blood decreases. As he grows up and systems improve, such manifestations disappear. If, after a few weeks of the baby's life, blue remains, the baby should be shown to specialists. The question should be approached seriously, since the same effect is given by pathological conditions accompanied by a deficiency of oxygen in the blood.

The blueness of the nasolabial triangle in newborns can be associated with very thin and transparent skin in this area. Due to this structure and the plexus of veins visible through the skin, it takes on a bluish tint. If the blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle of newborns is caused by this very factor, then you should not worry - the child is healthy.

Blue nasolabial triangle during illness

The nasolabial triangle in a newborn may turn blue when severe course respiratory tract diseases. Prominent examples are diseases such as pneumonia and pathological conditions of the lungs. These diseases are accompanied by blanching of the entire skin, heavy breathing and shortness of breath, which are paroxysmal in nature. The stronger the attacks, the more pronounced the changes in skin color. Protracted colds or viral infection in infants, due to the effect on the lungs, they can also provoke the appearance of the described symptoms.

A blue nasolabial triangle in a newborn can be caused by a foreign body in the airway. If such symptoms are observed for the first time and the child cannot breathe, an urgent need to examine him and call an ambulance.

Blue nasolabial triangle in pathological conditions

Most common reason manifestations of the blue of the nasolabial triangle in a newborn becomes a congenital heart disease. The same symptoms can be caused by malformations of the pulmonary artery and acute heart failure. All these conditions can only be diagnosed by specialists. If the blueness is observed longer than normal and at times when the child does not show signs of severe anxiety in behavior, you should urgently inform the doctor about it.

For diagnostics pathological conditions with cyanosis, a specialist conducts ultrasound procedure heart, chest x-ray and electrocardiogram. If a heart defect has been ruled out, the doctor may refer the child to a neurologist.

Most often, neuropathologists diagnose underdevelopment respiratory system baby. In this case, the mother is advised to increase the walking time and send the baby to massage sessions. As a rule, by the year everything is restored and the symptoms disappear. In any case, experts do not recommend self-medication, and you should not treat these symptoms with negligence. At the first manifestations of cyanosis, you need to inform the local pediatrician about this.

Types and causes of cyanosis in children under one year old

Physiological causes

In infants, blood oxygen saturation varies between 92–95%, therefore, a decrease in saturation below 92% can cause cyanosis of the skin due to a lack of oxygen in the tissues of the body. Normally, blue may appear around the mouth in the following situations:

  • Strong and frequent crying. It is observed in capricious children due to a decrease in the supply of oxygen to the blood. Cyanosis is observed exclusively when the baby is crying and goes away on its own at rest.
  • Thin and light skin of the baby. The blue of the nasolabial triangle is due to the proximity blood vessels to the surface of the skin, and therefore cyanosis can increase with crying or sudden changes in ambient temperature.
  • Hypothermia. Often, after bathing a child, cyanosis around the mouth can occur, which is caused by the temperature difference in the bathroom and the child's room. At the same time, you can feel that the child's limbs are cold to the touch, which probably indicates that the baby is frozen.

Somatic diseases

A decrease in blood oxygen saturation can occur due to a violation of gas exchange or due to a violation of the flow of air into the lungs. For example:

  • Pneumonia. Serious infection which has bright clinical manifestations and, in addition to cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle, it is accompanied by such manifestations as shortness of breath, fever, cough, wheezing on auscultation, heavy breathing, pallor of the skin, etc.
  • Ingress of a foreign body into the respiratory tract. Against the background of visible well-being, coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing suddenly begins. Soon, due to shortness of breath, the nasolabial triangle or the skin around the mouth begins to turn blue.

In this situation, you need to act quickly. The child must be placed on a roller or on his knee, lower his head down and pat on the back. Due to the compression of the chest, the foreign body will be pushed out, and breathing will be restored. If this cannot be done, urgent hospitalization is required.

Pathological conditions

This category of factors includes congenital diseases of cardio-vascular system. As a rule, this includes heart defects. The most common birth defect is non-closure. oval window, in which there is a mixing of the venous and arterial blood, which leads to a sharp decrease in blood oxygen saturation and the appearance of blue over the upper lip.

Normally, the oval window should close immediately when the baby is born, because at intrauterine development this opening was necessary for the breathing of the fetus in the womb. As soon as the child has taken his first breath, there is no need for this hole.

If the foramen ovale is not overgrown at birth, then clinically this can be characterized by the presence of persistent cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle, which tends to increase with anxiety, crying, sucking, etc. This problem requires urgent consultation with a cardiologist and observation of the defect within 1 year of the baby's life. As a rule, within a year, the defect can be delayed without any therapeutic intervention. Otherwise, surgery may be required.

As it becomes clear from all of the above, in order to eliminate the fears of the parents of a baby who has such an alarming symptom, it is necessary to show it to three specialists:

  • Pediatrician. On examination, he can roughly suggest what is the reason for the appearance of cyanosis and send him for further examination.
  • Cardiologist. First of all, it is necessary to eliminate serious congenital pathologies, which often require urgent treatment.
  • Neuropathologist. Blue nasolabial triangle in combination with tremors of the limbs and chin, regurgitation, anxiety and frequent crying may indicate increased intracranial pressure or about vegetative dystonia The child has. These neurological problems can be the result of obstructed labor, difficult pregnancy and / or immaturity of the baby's nervous system.

Regardless true reason the appearance of cyanosis in children under one year old, a timely visit to a specialist will help to avoid the disastrous outcomes of serious diseases.

Health disorders can be indicated by the most different symptoms, sometimes not even very pronounced and not accompanied by special changes in well-being. Therefore, each person needs to be attentive to the state of his body. So have healthy people skin and mucous membranes have pink tint, and changes in their color should be considered as an alarming symptom. So cyanosis is considered a fairly common disorder. And we will talk about a condition in which cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle appears in an infant and in an adult.

How is cyanosis manifested, what symptoms indicate it?

Cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle is a cyanotic coloration of this area, which is determined by the state of the underlying capillary network. This is a symptom that is easily identified during a physical examination. Indeed, normally the area near the nose and lips should have the same color as the skin throughout the body. If such a violation is caused different problems with health, it may be accompanied by other symptoms. Blue discoloration can occur gradually, and in some situations it develops sharply.

Cyanosis in an infant

In newborn babies, the blue on the nasolabial triangle is completely normal. This phenomenon can be observed in babies when they scream or cry. This is a bluish discoloration of pulmonary origin, in which the amount of oxygen in the blood decreases and the skin turns blue. This symptom disappears on its own after the child grows up. If this does not happen, then you need to see a doctor.

Also, natural cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle is observed due to too thin skin in this area of ​​the body. The venous plexus can easily show through it, which is why the fold looks blue. But over time, this symptom will disappear by itself.

Sometimes the blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle in children appears when they swallow small objects. In this case, cyanosis is explained by disturbances in the activity of the respiratory system.

Cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle in adults

If the blue around the lips and mouth appears suddenly, do not leave it unattended. Persistent symptom most likely indicates different chronic diseases... It should be noted that cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle in adults rarely appears on its own. Most often, it is accompanied by a blue discoloration of other parts of the body: mucous membranes, skin in certain areas, etc. Natural cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle can be explained by hypothermia, prolonged stay at a considerable height and oxygen deficiency.

Why does cyanosis occur, what causes it?

Consider the causes of cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle, which can cause it to turn blue, in a little more detail.

As practice shows, the most common health disorders that cause such a symptom are cardiac disorders. It can be a congenital heart defect or acute heart failure. Also, this phenomenon is sometimes caused by malformations of the pulmonary artery.

Another pathological cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle can occur in patients with any diseases of the respiratory tract. This phenomenon is often observed with pneumonia - pneumonia. It is worth noting that in children this disease is often almost asymptomatic. Therefore, cyanosis, which has arisen suddenly, definitely should not be ignored.

Blue nasolabial triangle in both children and adults may be due to the development of anemia different types... Also, such a symptom is provoked by neuralgia.

Sometimes cyanosis near the lips and nose appears when bronchial asthma or with respiratory allergies, which are accompanied by spasm of smooth muscles.

How is cyanosis corrected, what is its effective treatment?

As already clear from the above, cyanosis is just a symptom. Therefore, to correct the blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle, it is necessary to identify the causes of this violation.

So if such a symptom is caused by an open oval window in a child, doctors only advise to observe the baby and provide him with full-fledged care. It is imperative to walk a little more with a crumb; it is also necessary to systematically monitor the state of the oval window.

If the crumbs are diagnosed with a complete absence heart valve, without surgical intervention not enough. Weakened children undergo surgery.

Inflammation of the lungs in children and adults is corrected with an infusion, as well as antibacterial therapy... For correction respiratory failure apply an oxygen mask.

For bronchial asthma and respiratory allergies, doctors select the appropriate treatment. Therapy involves arresting the attack, as well as planned correction in the interictal period.

If you suspect that the cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle, which we continue to talk about on this page www.rasteniya-lecarstvennie.ru, has developed due to the ingress of some small items into the respiratory tract, you should immediately seek medical attention. To eliminate such a violation, surgical intervention may be required.

With regard to anemia, its correction depends on the cause of the disease. To eliminate such a nuisance, you may need to take iron and / or vitamin B12 preparations.

If you find cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle in yourself, in a child or in your loved ones, be sure to consult a doctor.

Often young parents notice that some areas of the baby's skin are "of the wrong color" and turn to the pediatrician with the question - why the nasolabial triangle of the baby turns blue. Blue nasolabial triangle occurs in the vast majority of infants and is usually not an alarming symptom. But sometimes it can still mean a pathology of the cardiovascular or respiratory system or have other serious causes.

What is cyanosis, its types

Cyanosis (blue discoloration) is a sign of a lack of oxygen in the body, as a result of which the production of reduced hemoglobin (methemoglobin) increases. It also gives a dark color to the skin or mucous membranes.

If cyanosis is observed in the perioral region, on the hands and feet, it is peripheral cyanosis, or acrocyanosis. It can mean both norm and pathology. More common in. But if the blue spreads to the head, torso, mucous membranes of the oral cavity, this is central cyanosis, which almost always speaks of the pathology of the blood, heart or lungs. Here you cannot do without the help of a doctor.

The causes of cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle in infants can be both physiological (normal) and a sign of a serious systemic disease.

Physiological

In most children, the nasolabial triangle becomes bluish as a result of increased physical exertion.

  • With long-term. During crying, the child exhales a lot and inhales little, as a result of which the amount of oxygen in the blood decreases slightly, which leads to a blue nasolabial triangle.
  • At . Sucking at the breast is a serious burden for the newborn, in which the superficial vessels dilate and become more noticeable.
  • Height . When the child is high above sea level long time, the amount of oxygen in the blood decreases slightly, but this is not dangerous.
  • Hypothermia. If the room is not warm enough when or when changing clothes, the child may freeze, leading to cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle. Warm the baby immediately after bathing - if the blue disappears, then this is normal physiological cyanosis.

If the darkening of the nasolabial triangle does not go away for a long time after feeding or when warming, and is also combined with a blue tongue, nail phalanges fingers, toes and other parts of the body - contact your pediatrician immediately.

Pathological

Depending on the mechanism of origin, pathological cyanosis is divided into three main types.

  1. Permanent (of central origin)... It can be observed after birth injury, with increased, immaturity of the respiratory or vasomotor center of the brain. The nasolabial triangle in infants often turns blue with such pathologies, in combination with a decrease in the sucking reflex and tension of the large fontanel.
  2. Respiratory (pulmonary) origin... At the same time, blueness near the nose and mouth is usually combined with blueness around the eyes and pallor of the skin. Sometimes, when breathing, the intercostal muscles are drawn in. This condition occurs with bronchitis, bronchial asthma, diaphragmatic hernia, aspiration of the respiratory tract (foreign body ingestion), inhalation or carbon monoxide, and even with a banal rhinitis.
  3. Cardiovascular origin... At birth defects heart (for example, non-closure of the oval window of the interatrial septum) often turns blue in the nasolabial triangle in a newborn already in the maternity hospital. But due to the peculiarities of the baby's heart in the first weeks after birth, noises can not always be heard. Therefore, it is so important to go for routine examinations in the first year of a baby's life in order to identify possible pathologies development of the cardiovascular system and other parts of the body.

Normal or pathological?

Before you panic, try to analyze your baby's health by answering the following questions.

  • Is the child growing and developing normally?
  • Has a heart murmur been previously detected?
  • Is it difficult to breathe during periods of cyanoticity of the nasolabial triangle?
  • Do the rest of the body turn blue along with the perioral region?
  • Is the baby active enough, does he get tired too quickly compared to his peers?
  • Is he constantly drowsy and lethargic?
  • Does he have pale skin?

If even one item on this list raises even the slightest doubt, you should consult your pediatrician as soon as possible. He will be able to figure out the situation on his own, or he will refer you to a neurologist or cardio-rheumatologist.

Necessary actions

If you observe cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle in your child, first of all, you should pay attention to under what conditions it happens and how quickly it goes away. If a symptom is visible, for example, while swimming, but then quickly passes, then there is nothing to worry about. But if this phenomenon is observed constantly, it is necessary to take action.

  • See a doctor... In the clinic, you may be prescribed an EKG (electrocardiogram), ECHO (ultrasound examination of the heart), chest X-ray. You may be referred to a neurologist for a more extensive evaluation.
  • Lifestyle . Support in the house, walk with your baby more often, try to make him cry less often (be more attentive to his comfort). All this must be done even when the child is completely healthy.
  • Massage . After consultation with a specialist, perform a daily massage - it will help to stimulate nervous system and improve the work of the respiratory center.

If a foreign body gets into the child's respiratory tract, you need to act without delay: put the baby on your knee with your stomach and hit his back several times. The blows must be strong enough, otherwise the foreign body will not move. If this does not help, immediately call an ambulance.

A blue nasolabial triangle in a baby is a symptom that always deserves the attention of parents. Analyze your child's condition and be sure to share your concerns with your doctor. In time Taken measures minimize the consequences of any disease.

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