What causes purple discoloration of lips when suffering from high fever?
Patient: 9 month old girl fever has been up to 103 and back down then back up. Went to dr they said its a virus. Came home she napped then woke up with a fever but her hands feet and lips are a little purple. Gave her a bath and she began to shake a lot. She has stopped shaking but still has a fever over 100 with slightly purple hands deer and lips. Any idea? Doctor: HI...purplish discoloration and duskiness of lips occurs in high due to peripheral vasoconstriction. If the kid is active otherwise and well when the kid is not having fever, you need not worry.Usually rather than fever, what is more important is the activity of the child, in between 2 fever episodes on the same day. If the kid is active and playing around when there is no fever, it is probably viral illness and it doesn't require antibiotics at all. Once viral fever comes it will there for 4-7 days. So do not worry about duration if the kid is active.Regards - Dr. Sumanth