blue toes

[ludwig]

Last night I noticed that my daughter's toes on both feet were alarmingly blue as if they had no circulation.
They went back to normal after a bit of rubbing. She reported no discomfort and is otherwise healthy, but does anyone know what could cause it. Should she see a doctor?
(she's 11).

[jake-the-peg]

Sounds like Reynaud's Phenomina to me:

http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/raynaud/ar125fs.htm

I developed this in a couple of fingers after diving in very cold water and it comes back from time to time but it is common and can occur without an obvious cause.

But it can be a sympton of other less common but more serious issues.

You could check out the NHS direct website:

here: http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/index.asp

or call them on 0845 4647

[K99]

Yep, definatly Raynauds. I have it and my fingers and toes go white then blue then bright red when warmed back up. It doesn't have to be all that cold for it to happen. I get it in the summer or if I'm still for a long time, also holding hands turns my fingers white!

It can cause some discomfort but I'm used to it now, and have learnt how to prevent it, well most of the time.

There is medication you can get which I've had a couple of times in extreme coldness such as when I went to Russia and when I went skiing. It does work wonders, I could walk around bare feet and my toes & feet were lovely and warm.

My advice is to go to doctors anyway.

[ludwig]

thanks folks.