Beware of gray syndrome in infants

Gray syndrome in babies is a term that is quite strange for many parents. This is a dangerous disease caused mostly by carelessness of parents. Therefore, finding out the information surrounding this disease is the easiest way you can protect your baby.

A healthy baby is a baby that all mothers want. That's why it's important to take care of yourself throughout your pregnancy. Do not take any medicine on your own during this time as some drugs can cause birth defects or other health complications, such as gray syndrome in babies.

Gray syndrome in infants

Gray syndrome in a newborn is a potentially fatal health complication caused by an overdose of the antibiotic chloramphenicol by either mother or baby . The baby's body cannot eliminate this drug, so it can accumulate in the blood, causing heart failure. The mortality rate of gray syndrome in newborns is about 40%.

Gray syndrome in babies is also known as chloramphenicol poisoning in babies. It usually develops soon after birth, and the incidence is the same in both boys and girls.

What is chloramphenicol?

Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections such as meningitis . Currently, due to the availability of new drugs and due to the risk of gray syndrome in infants, the trend of taking this antibiotic has decreased. This drug is also believed to be harmful to the bone marrow.

The cause of gray syndrome in babies

Overuse of chloramphenicol is the main cause of this syndrome. Infants cannot excrete large amounts of chloramphenicol. As a result, this compound will accumulate in the bloodstream, causing death. If a pregnant woman or a lactating woman takes chloramphenicol, the drug can be passed on to her baby.

Which babies are at risk for gray syndrome in their babies?

Babies given chloramphenicol in the first three days after birth without monitoring the drug concentration in the blood may be at risk of this disease. Babies born prematurely and underweight are also at increased risk of this disease. In addition, mothers who have taken this medicine during pregnancy, babies in the womb are also at high risk of this syndrome.

Diagnosis of gray syndrome in a newborn

Giving your baby a comprehensive checkup and learning about the medicines you are giving your baby is the easiest way to diagnose gray syndrome in a newborn. In addition, regular blood chloramphenicol measurement is also a way to help doctors diagnose disease.

Signs that the baby has gray syndrome in the newborn

Symptoms of this syndrome may appear 2 - 9 days after treatment:

Vomiting

Lower blood pressure

Low body temperature

Blueish lips and skin

A swollen abdomen

Green stools

Abnormal heart rate

Difficulty breathing and refusing to suckle

Complications can occur

If gray syndrome in a newborn is not detected and treated promptly, it can lead to complications such as:

Circulatory problems can lead to heart disease, which can be fatal

Damaged bone marrow can cause the body to stop producing platelets and new blood cells, leading to bleeding and infection.

A secondary disorder or infection can make the syndrome worse, especially in premature babies.

Treatment of gray syndrome in a newborn

Early treatment is the best way to overcome the disease. The first step that you must take is to stop taking the medication. If you take chloramphenicol for treatment, breastfeeding must be stopped. When transferred to hospital, the doctor can give your baby:

Blood transfusion: With this method, a portion of your baby's blood is removed and replaced with donated blood or plasma.

Hemodialysis: With this method, the toxins will be removed, the potassium and sodium levels will also be balanced to maintain a stable blood pressure for the baby.

Prevent gray syndrome in infants

Avoiding chloramphenicol and not using this medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding is the best way to prevent this disease. Ask your doctor about alternative medicines if your doctor prescribes chloramphenicol.

Although chloramphenicol can be dangerous, if you take it under the supervision of a doctor, it will not cause gray syndrome in a newborn. In this case, you will have regular blood tests to make sure that there is no excess medicine in the blood.