dehydration symptoms but not dehydrated?? - General Health Message Board

sunnymom4 · 03-13-2006, 02:34 PM

A friend called this morning concerned about her 3 year old daughter. Says that her lips are bluish, fingers cold, when you press her skin it takes too long to "pink up" (takes 30 second or so to go back to normal). I was thinking poor circulation or low oxygen, but how does that explain the "pink-up" issue? That seems more like dehydration? But the child is not sick, no flu, no cold. What sorts of things could cause this?

I did encourage her to take her daughter to see a doctor. I'm sure she is doing that by now, but I can't stop thinking about this.

twizliz · 03-13-2006, 02:41 PM

If she couldn't get her into the dr, I hope she was able to get her to the hospital. It's probably nothing, but like I say, always better safe than sorry. Please keep us posted.

Sunlover · 03-13-2006, 04:19 PM

Does she have asthma? Could be that, a heart defect, or maybe she was just very cold? Kids get like that a lot in pools when they get really chilled and won't get out. I know she wasn't in a pool, but maybe where you are it's cold (??) and the house wasn't heated good enough.

feelbad · 03-14-2006, 06:51 AM

if this childs lips are actually blue and her capillary refill is that slow(when you press on the skin or the nail bed,it should realistically,in any healthy person,almost instantly pink back up,i am talking a couple seconds anything longer than 3 seconds would be considered to be abnormal.she is wayyy past that)she is having some sort of a major circulation problem that needs very definite evaluation asap.something is preventing the o2 in her body from exchanging properly with the co2.Her o2 saturation would be very very low which could cause her some major problems with just about every possible body system,including respiratory and the brain as they are not getting the proper oxygenation right now.

Honestly,she does need to get this child to either her doc or an ER asap.hopefully she is already doing that,but i would call her to make darn sure she is actually doing it.this does need very prompt attention.hopefully the reason for this can be sorted out soon.but I would call her mother to make sure this child gets seen as soon as she can get her to the doc or er.Something is definitely not right with her.i hope things are not majorly serious but please let us know what you find out,K? FB

Madam Captain · 03-14-2006, 07:03 AM

I agree with the other posters, that this child may have poor circulation or a heart defect. She may also have a lung disorder or possibly a lung infection that could be causing her symptoms.