What Causes Cold Sensation In The Limbs While Recovering From Flu?

Posted on Sat, 28 Jan 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 28 Jan 2017 Answered on

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : I thought I had a virus or the flu beginning last Sunday afternoon. Although I am no longer nauseous, a new and unusual thing happened today. During this entire time my hands and feet have been extremely cold while the middle of my body is rather warm. Today, my pinkie finger on my right hand has turned blue and partially numb. It is also exactly in the middle of the finger and more noticeable on the palm side. The fingertip is not blue but is also very cold. I have tried running them under warm water, holding a "hot hands," putting my hands under my armpits and even tried soaking that had in a 1/1 mixture of apple cider vinegar and water. Is this part of the flu symptoms going around this year or is it something I should be concerned about? Thank you in advance for your guidance.

Answered by Dr. Mahaveer Patil (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Does not seem to be related to flu

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for posting the question.
I have gone through your medical history in detail.

The cold extremities with numbness and bluish discoloration may be due to hypoxia-induced cyanosis. The haemoglobin content of the blood may be reduced causing reduced oxygen carrying capacity . This in turn causes numbness and bluish discoloration.

Other possibility is peripheral vascular disease.
In this condition,the arterial blood vasculature in the limbs undergoes constriction causing reduced oxygenated blood supply to the limbs and finger tips.

I would suggest you to get complete blood count including haemoglobin levels ,iron binding capacity and ferritin levels checked.

An arterial color doppler will help to rule out peripheral vascular disease.

Do let me know once the reports are ready.

Continue using warm packs / warm water sponging.

I hope the answer was useful.

Feel free to ask me any follow up queries that you may have.

Thank you.
Kind regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng