- A 25-year-old woman from Rhode Island went to the emergency room complaining of a variety of concerning symptoms, including a bluish appearance of her skin.
- The woman had been using paralyzing drugs that paralyze nerve endings, and doctors diagnosed her with acquired methemoglobinemia.
- This condition means the blood mutates and stops carrying oxygen to the tissues, which can be fatal, and the antidote is methylene blue.
When a 25-year-old woman went to the emergency room, she wasn’t just feeling blue; Her symptoms included weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and bluish skin.
She suffered from “cyanosis” and was treated by Dr. Otis Warren and Dr. Benjamin Blackwood at Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. Doctors thought her rare case was noteworthy and published her research in a journal. New England Medical Journal To explain her reaction.
One of the emergency physicians, Dr. Warren, noticed the rare condition and diagnosed him with acquired methemoglobinemia, a condition in which the blood mutates and stops carrying oxygen to the tissues. Research suggests that certain medications, such as benzocaine, which a woman used the night before for toothache, can cause this condition. “This is one of those rare cases where we’re taught, studied, and tested, but we rarely see it,” Dr. Warren said. CNN.
If left untreated, prolonged hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) can lead to heart and brain complications and even death. Side effects are rare but have been warned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA issued a statement asking companies to stop selling over-the-counter oral health products containing benzocaine and asking consumers to avoid benzocaine.
There is a treatment called methylene blue. NCBI. The bright blue antidote restores oxygen levels by returning lost electrons to the hemoglobin molecule and helps release oxygen to tissues. The woman received two doses of methylene blue and recovered after an overnight hospital stay.
Jennifer Need is a fitness editor. women’s health I have over 10 years of experience in health and wellness journalism. With her husband, daughter, and dog, she’s always out exploring, whether it’s sweaty workouts, gear testing, hiking, snowboarding, or running.
