Abstract
A prospective study of 198 infants of drug dependent mothers included: (1) history of maternal drue habit, (2) measurement in infant's urine of total morphine & qualitative detection of other drugs by gas chromatograph, (3) evaluation of severity of neonatal withdrawal by a scoring system & (4) study of the effect of a modified environment (quiet, warm, dimly lit & frequent feeding) on withdrawal.
RESULTS: (1) history is unreliable in assessing maternal drug habit. Mean morphine levels of 1.02 & 0.99mg% were found in the urine of infants whose mothers claim non-usage of heroin for 1-3 months before delivery, respectively. (2) severity of neonatal withdrawal did not correlate with infant's urine morphine level range 0-9.4 mg%, P<0.35), but correlated significantly to maternal methadone dose (P<0.005). None to mild withdrawl was seen in mean maternal methadone dose of 21.9 mg/day vs. 31 mg/day in moderate to severe withdrawl. The duration of methadone intake did not correlate with severity of withdrawl. (3) in order of decreasing frequency the S & S of withdrawal were: fist-sucking, irritability, tremors, sneezing, shrill cry, hypertonia, stuffy nose, sweating, diarrhea, vomiting and yawning. Convulsion was not noted. No death occurred. Mean birthweight = 2885 ± 454 g & gest. age = 39 ± 1.1 wks. (> 10th percentile). Mean weight loss = 160.5 g (4)the control (C) & experimental (E) groups for modified environment study were matched for weight, sex, gest. age and maternal methadone dose. The incidence of mild withdrawal was 68% (C) vs. 71% (E); of moderate withdrawal, 27% (C) vs. 26% (E): of severe withdrawal, 5% (C) vs. 3% (E). The difference between the 2 groups was not significant. (5) the qualitative detection of other drugs in the infant's urine will be presented.
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Ostrea, E., Chavez, C., Strauss, M. et al. A STUDY OF FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE SEVERITY OF NEONATAL NARCOTIC WITHDRAWAL. Pediatr Res 8, 365 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00152
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00152