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Fugate Family
Depicted here is Martin Fugate, his wife, Lily and their seven children, four of which exhibit the effects of excess methemoglobin. In this picture, Martin also appears to have methemoglobinemia although it is disputed as to whether he was only a carrier of the gene or actually had the disorder himself.
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Paul Karason
Paul Karason possesses his blue skin coloring from the topical usage of silver. Karason rubbed silver over his skin for years as a treatment to a skin condition. The result, methemoglobinemia
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Lorenzo and Eleanor Fugate
Descended from Martin Fugate, Lorenzo also exhibited the effects of methemoglobinemia through the blue hue of his skin. Many of the descendants of Martin Fugate married each other; the inbreeding that resulted caused a surge in the amount of people with methemoglobinemia
methemoglobinemia
Many members of the Fugate family exhibit the effects of excess methemoglobin. It is disputed as to whether Martin was only a carrier of the gene controlling the amount of methemoglobinemia or actually had the disorder himself. Paul Karason exhibits methemoglobinemia from the topical usage of silver.
nature. science.
about us: the blue people of Kentucky
methemoglobinemia: symptoms
Blue skinned people is not solely reserved for fiction and cartoons. Blue skin can be seen in reality when one inherits a certain recessive gene or by ingesting silver. This exhibition of blue skin is an affliction that was not just hyperbole to a family of eastern Kentucky. The Blue Fugates of Kentucky had inherited methemoglobinemia through chance and inbreeding.
- Blue hue to skin (cyanosis)
Methemoglobin levels above 25%
- Cyanosis unaffected by oxygen administration
- Blood that is dark or chocolate in color that will not change to red in the presence of oxygen
- Headache
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Chest pain
Methemoglobin levels above 70%
- death may result if not treated immediately.
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