NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME
Babies who have been exposed to opioids such as methadone, oxycodone, codeine, morphine or even painkiller treatment or other strict drugs such as heroin while in the uterus are likely to suffer some form of complications when they are born. These complications are most severe when these babies are cut off from such drugs after delivery. Data gathered from research has shown that about half of these babies tend to experience severe opioid withdrawal symptoms within their first 72 hours after birth.
The withdrawal symptoms common in adults include but are not limited to bone aches, teeth throb and back sore. In most of the adult cases, it was discovered that they have a raw stomach which makes them feel thirstier, and diarrhea and this is not too far from what is obtainable in children.
Opioid withdrawal for babies is medically referred to as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). The rate of babies born with NAS is on the increase on a daily basis due to the increased use of painkillers and abuse. In 2016, the United States of America was the leading country closely followed by Canada. It was observed that Canadian pharmacists dispensed about 19 million prescriptions for opioids which is equivalent to one prescription for five out of every ten Canadians. The total number of babies exposed to NAS has increased 16-fold in Ontario and based on data gathered from Ontario’s Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health (PCMCH), it was evident that over 950 infants were born to mothers addicted to opioids in 2017.
NAS can be defined as a group of conditions which are caused when a baby is withdrawn from drugs (most especially) which they have been exposed to in the womb. Most of these babies arrive with throes of withdrawal even before they take their first breath. Based on Pediatricians, these children are usually jittery and appear very shaky. The other common symptoms associated with NAS may include the following;
A high-pitched cry which is hard to soothe
Tight muscle tone
Difficulty in eating
Weight loss
In Berlin, about 100 babies are born yearly. Out of this number, it was discovered in 2015 that about 8.5% of these babies were in active withdrawal from opioids. This was in accordance with the data published from a study conducted by the University of New Hampshire. This percentage is, however, higher than the 2.4% which was observed in babies born with NAS.
Although the long-term effects of babies born with opioids addiction are quite unclear, most health practitioners are of the view that this can lead to learning disabilities and behavioral issues which may come in the form of attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder for the children. Most of the withdrawal symptoms ay peak at 72 hours after delivery, it was observed that jitteriness can continue for months. In some of the severe case, the withdrawal symptoms could lead to death.
Conclusion
Drug addiction among pregnant women can bring about serious health complications for their babies.
The withdrawal symptoms common in adults include but are not limited to bone aches, teeth throb and back sore. In most of the adult cases, it was discovered that they have a raw stomach which makes them feel thirstier, and diarrhea and this is not too far from what is obtainable in children.
Opioid withdrawal for babies is medically referred to as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). The rate of babies born with NAS is on the increase on a daily basis due to the increased use of painkillers and abuse. In 2016, the United States of America was the leading country closely followed by Canada. It was observed that Canadian pharmacists dispensed about 19 million prescriptions for opioids which is equivalent to one prescription for five out of every ten Canadians. The total number of babies exposed to NAS has increased 16-fold in Ontario and based on data gathered from Ontario’s Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health (PCMCH), it was evident that over 950 infants were born to mothers addicted to opioids in 2017.
NAS can be defined as a group of conditions which are caused when a baby is withdrawn from drugs (most especially) which they have been exposed to in the womb. Most of these babies arrive with throes of withdrawal even before they take their first breath. Based on Pediatricians, these children are usually jittery and appear very shaky. The other common symptoms associated with NAS may include the following;
A high-pitched cry which is hard to soothe
Tight muscle tone
Difficulty in eating
Weight loss
In Berlin, about 100 babies are born yearly. Out of this number, it was discovered in 2015 that about 8.5% of these babies were in active withdrawal from opioids. This was in accordance with the data published from a study conducted by the University of New Hampshire. This percentage is, however, higher than the 2.4% which was observed in babies born with NAS.
Although the long-term effects of babies born with opioids addiction are quite unclear, most health practitioners are of the view that this can lead to learning disabilities and behavioral issues which may come in the form of attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder for the children. Most of the withdrawal symptoms ay peak at 72 hours after delivery, it was observed that jitteriness can continue for months. In some of the severe case, the withdrawal symptoms could lead to death.
Conclusion
Drug addiction among pregnant women can bring about serious health complications for their babies.
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