Are you blue baby?

Cyanosis can occur for many years in patients who have gone untreated for congenital cyanotic heart disease, the commonest form of which are tetralogy of fallot* and transfosition of the great vessels, in which the circulation is misdirected. Both of these conditions result in the presence of partially deoxygenated blood (which is blue in colour), which gives the skin a characteristic purple colour.

*Tetralogy of fallot is a form of congenital heart disease in which there is pulmonary stenosis**, enlargement of the right ventricle, a ventricular septal desfect, and in which the origin of the aorta lies over the septal defect. The affected child is blue (cyanosed) and frequently squats. The defect is corrected surgically. [ELA Fallot (1850-1911), French Physician]

**Pulmonary Stenosos leads to faintness, angina pectoris, heart failure. Narrowing of the outlet of the right ventricle of the heart to the pulmonary artery.

The above is an extract from a medical dictionary I poured over once, in 2007, when I was working at Kingsway Hospital in Derby. I was fascinated by the concept that people can really be blue, but you aren't meant to be. The language these dictionaries is written in is really interesting. I especially like how you have something explained, but then within the explanation is something you need explaining further, and within that explanation is another concept which requires attention...it's a wordy labyrinth, medicine.