What causes cyanotic conditions?
There may be a number of different causes of cyanotic conditions but there are some that are more common than others; these include:
- Tetralogy of Fallot (also known as TOF): this is the most common cause of cyanotic conditions. This condition involves four defects that affect the structure of the heart; these include a tiny hole between the left and right ventricles, abnormal thickening of the muscles in the right ventricle, the pulmonary valve becoming too narrow and a displaced aortic valve. The defects cause the blood with a high percentage of oxygen and blood with a low percentage of oxygen to mix together; the blood that is then pumped around the body has lower oxygen content than normal.
- Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA): this is the second most common cause of cyanotic conditions. This condition is caused by the pulmonary and aortic valves being in the wrong place; this results in low oxygen levels in the blood.
- Diabetes (in the mother): mothers with diabetes are much more likely (up to 5 times) to give birth to a baby with a congenital heart condition
- Alcohol abuse (by the mother): drinking during pregnancy increases the risk of giving birth to a baby with a heart defect; it is estimated that between 30 and 50 percent of women that drink regularly throughout their pregnancy will give birth to a child with a congenital heart condition.
- Rubella (in the mother): rubella, also known as German measles can be extremely dangerous for the health of the baby, especially during the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy; around 80 percent of mothers that develop the condition during this time will give birth to a child with a congenital heart condition.
- Genetic conditions: genetic conditions such as Down’s syndrome, Turner syndrome and Noonan syndrome can all cause heart defects.
Symptoms of cyanotic conditions
Common symptoms of cyanotic conditions include:
- Fainting
- Pain in the chest
- Blue colouring in the extremities (the fingers and toes) and the lips (this is also known as cyanosis)
- Difficulties with breathing
- Hypoxia: this occurs in periodical bouts when the body suddenly experiences a severe shortage of oxygen; this causes hyperventilation and cyanosis
- Slow development and growth
- Difficulties with feeding
- Sweating