All you need to know about blue baby syndrome

What is blue baby syndrome or blue baby disease?

Blue baby syndrome or medically termed as methemoglobinemia is a condition when an infant’s blood has less amount of haemoglobin and as a result of it her skin turns blue. A baby develops this condition when her skin gets into the bluish discolouration or cyanosis, which occurs due to the low oxygen density in the mucous membrane located near the skin surface. Babies under the age of 6 months are generally affected by blue baby syndrome.

What causes the disease?

Nitrate contaminated water is the most common cause of blue baby syndrome. If a baby drinks formula made with the nitrate contaminated water, her body converts the nitrate into nitrites and this nitrites forms methemoglobin by binding with haemoglobin and makes it unable to carry oxygen, which is haemoglobin’s main duty. 

Farming areas where well water is being used, nitrates are common in drinking water. Due to the use of manure and fertilizers, this nitrate contamination occurs. 

There are some other conditions also, which can cause a baby appear blue, such as 

1. Methemoglobinemia: This occurs when a baby inhaled nitric oxide or certain antibiotics and anesthetics. 
2. TOF or Tetralogy of Fallot: It is a very serious congenital heart condition as a result of which four structural defects, which create a lack of oxygen in the blood. This condition also can cause a little one to look blue but generally it happens at birth.
3. Any other congenital abnormalities of heart: Any kind of abnormality of heart that leads to lack of oxygen in baby’s blood will turn the baby’s skin blue. 

Some symptoms of blue baby disease

The very common symptom of blue baby syndrome is the bluish discolouration of the skin around the hands, mouth and feet. This discolouration is also called cyanosis and it is the sign that the person or baby is not getting enough oxygen that her body needs. 

Apart from the discolouration, there are some other symptoms, and they are

• Breathing problem
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Increased salivation
• Loss of consciousness
• Lethargy
• Seizures

Treatment

Based on the cause of the blue baby syndrome the treatments are different. In case the congenital heart abnormality is the reason behind it, there is a chance that your baby may need a surgery. On the basis of the severity of the defect, medications can also be prescribed. Babies, who have methemoglobinemia, are given a prescribed drug named methylene blue that can provide the oxygen to the blood. This drug is generally injected into a vein. 

Prevention 

There are many cases where you do not know the reason so it is obvious that the prevention will be difficult. But there are some things that are under your control

• Do not give your baby formula that is made of well water. Boiling does not remove nitrates from water, the only way to make sure that your personal source of water is nitrate free is to test that with the help of local officials. And the level of nitrate should not exceed 10 mg/L. As per WHO, methemoglobinemia can be caused due to more than 50mg/ litre of nitrates. 
• Until your baby reaches the age of 7 years try to avoid excessive feeding of nitrate containing foods that come from soil, like spinach, broccoli, carrots and beets. 

After a good care and proper treatment blue babies glow with good health and also can lead normal lives with a few health concerns. If you notice your little bunny is turning a little bluish immediately consult your doctor.