{"id":2694,"date":"2015-10-27T20:19:45","date_gmt":"2015-10-27T20:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/?p=2694"},"modified":"2015-10-27T21:03:39","modified_gmt":"2015-10-27T21:03:39","slug":"rare-but-true-disorders-that-can-turn-your-skin-blue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/rare-but-true-disorders-that-can-turn-your-skin-blue\/","title":{"rendered":"Rare But True-Disorders That Can Turn Your Skin Blue"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"blue<\/a>The Blue Fugates of Troublesome Creek was an entire family from Eastern Kentucky made up of blue-skinned people.\u00a0 Those who knew the Fugates described them as, \u201cblue all over\u201d and \u201cas blue as Lake Louise.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Blue Fugates were famously known for inheriting and passing on the rare gene that causes methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder that produces an abnormally high amount of methemoglobin (a form of hemoglobin). Individuals who have this disease are at risk of developing very dark, almost chocolate- colored blood or blue skin. This is because the hemoglobin that they produce is unable to carry sufficient amounts of oxygen throughout the body and oxygenate tissues.<\/p>\n

Methemoglobinemia can be inherited or acquired.\u00a0 Acquired cases are more likely to occur and are usually the result of exposure to certain medications or chemicals such as nitrates, silver or benzocaine.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of this rare disease can include:<\/p>\n