A patient who turned up at hospital terrified that his blue hands could be a fatal disease was sent packing when medics found it was just dye from his new jeans.
The patient had gone to an A&E department in Paraguay, where baffled doctors ran a battery of tests to find the reason for his blue fingers, reported local media.
Doctor Ale Ginzo took to Twitter to explain how the young patient’s case at first stumped the entire department.
He wrote: “Young patient without any underlying disease comes in for bluish discolouration of the hands.
“Vital signs are checked, heartbeats are listened to, rheumatological history is sought. Everything normal.”
Dr Ginzo said they were concerned because the man’s puzzling blue hands might have been caused by acrocyanosis, a viral disease, or thrombosis.
Acrocyanosis is a blueness of the extremities caused by pulmonary and cardiac conditions or local tissue oxygenation defect.
The possible viral disease, he said, may have affected his extremities.
The possible thrombosis, on the other hand, may have been caused by hyperprothrombinemia due to recurring viruses.
Hyperprothrombinemia is a rare blood disorder that results in an impaired blood clotting reaction.
Dr Ginzo continued: “Colouration did not improve despite having stable vital signs and no other ailments.
“But how was this enigmatic case solved? What was the diagnosis?”
The successful diagnosis, however, was an act of pure jean-ius.
Dr Ginzo said: “Patient refers to having bought new jeans and constantly using alcohol spray.
“He cleaned his hands with the alcohol and rested them on the new jeans. Result: blue hands.
“Treatment: clean your hands before going to the emergency room.”
Twitter user Lalo Vargas replied: “Something similar happened to me, one day my face was all yellow, I went to the doctor, the doctor made me wash my face.
“I was a teacher at a university, I used the blackboard, that day I used yellow chalk, I stood there like a true clown.”
