Neonatal withdrawal
Neonatal Withdrawal
Neonatal withdrawal, also known as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) (pronunciation: nee-oh-nay-tal ab-sti-nuhns sin-drohm), is a group of problems that occur in a newborn who was exposed to addictive opiate drugs while in the mother's womb.
Etymology
The term "neonatal" is derived from the Latin word "neonatus" meaning "newly born". "Withdrawal" refers to the process of stopping the use of a substance, in this case, the substance being the addictive drugs the newborn was exposed to in utero.
Symptoms
Neonatal withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Excessive crying
- Fever
- Irritability
- Seizures
- Slow weight gain
- Tremors
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
Causes
Neonatal withdrawal is caused by the sudden discontinuation of certain types of drugs that were used by the mother during pregnancy. These may include opioids, sedatives, and some types of antidepressants.
Treatment
Treatment for neonatal withdrawal may include:
- Medication: This is often the same type of drug as the one the baby is withdrawing from, given in gradually decreasing doses.
- Supportive care: This might include a quiet and soothing environment, gentle handling, swaddling, and frequent feedings.
- Intravenous (IV) fluids: These are given if the baby becomes dehydrated or has severe vomiting or diarrhea.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Neonatal withdrawal
- Wikipedia's article - Neonatal withdrawal
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