Abstract
From Jan.1975 to June, 1977, 113 infants of drug-addicted mothers (IDAM) were studied and compared to 5903 infants of non-addicts at Downstate Medical Center. There were no differences in the ethnic background,maternal age and parental education between the study and control groups. Of 113 pregnant addicts, 69 were taking multiple drugs. The incidences of maternal urinary tract infection,positive STS and fetal distress were significantly (p<0.005) higher compared with the control group. Mean birth weight and gestational age in the study group were 2807 g and 38.5 wk respectively. The high incidence of low birth weight (27%) was mainly due to prematurity (21%). Mean birth weight (2435 g) of 8 infants of pure heroin addicts was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that (2790 g) of 27 infants of pure methadone addicts. Neonatal mortality rate per 1000 live births in IDAM was 33 and in the control group was 15. Withdrawal symptoms were noted in 96% of IDAM. Of 113 IDAM in the study group, 43 infants were followed for 9-30 months. Neurological evaluation at follow-up in these 43 infants was within normal limits. Weight increment and head growth were normal. Of these 43 infants 26% had lengths below the 3rd percentile. Seven of them had normal growth rates while 4 had retarded growth rates. Our study indicates that mothers'drug addiction appeares to affect their offspring during the neonatal period and linear growth in early childhood.
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Yoon, J., Shin, K., Kissin, B. et al. 1040 THE EFFECT OF MOTHERS' DRUG ADDICTION ON THEIR OFFSPRING. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 537 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01046
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01046