Biomaterial Database

Cleft palate, mortality and morbidity in infants of substance abusing mothers. 1995

D B Thomas

Division of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, Westmead Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.

OBJECTIVE To investigate a high incidence of congenital malformations, morbidity and mortality in infants of drug abusing mothers. METHODS In a 10 and a half year period from 1984-95, 497 such babies were reviewed whose mothers had abused a variety of drugs. RESULTS Thirty babies died or had serious disability. There were five cases of SIDS and 19 babies had major malformations, including seven with cleft lip/palate. Six babies had significant gastrointestinal disorders or feeding difficulties. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of clefting was 10 times the normal rate and SIDS five times the expected incidence. In a group of mainly socially disadvantaged women, the abuse of narcotics, amphetamines and other substances, with possible suboptimal nutrition, may have been contributory to this high morbidity and mortality. No specific drug could be implicated.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007226	Infant Mortality	Postnatal deaths from BIRTH to 365 days after birth in a given population. Postneonatal mortality represents deaths between 28 days and 365 days after birth (as defined by National Center for Health Statistics). Neonatal mortality represents deaths from birth to 27 days after birth.	Neonatal Mortality,Mortality, Infant,Postneonatal Mortality,Infant Mortalities,Mortalities, Infant,Mortalities, Neonatal,Mortalities, Postneonatal,Mortality, Neonatal,Mortality, Postneonatal,Neonatal Mortalities,Postneonatal Mortalities
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007232	Infant, Newborn, Diseases	Diseases of newborn infants present at birth (congenital) or developing within the first month of birth. It does not include hereditary diseases not manifesting at birth or within the first 30 days of life nor does it include inborn errors of metabolism. Both HEREDITARY DISEASES and METABOLISM, INBORN ERRORS are available as general concepts.	Neonatal Diseases,Disease, Neonatal,Diseases, Neonatal,Neonatal Disease
D008297	Male		Males
D009294	Narcotics	Agents that induce NARCOSIS. Narcotics include agents that cause somnolence or induced sleep (STUPOR); natural or synthetic derivatives of OPIUM or MORPHINE or any substance that has such effects. They are potent inducers of ANALGESIA and OPIOID-RELATED DISORDERS.	Analgesics, Narcotic,Narcotic Analgesics,Narcotic,Narcotic Effect,Narcotic Effects,Effect, Narcotic,Effects, Narcotic
D009357	Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome	Fetal and neonatal addiction and withdrawal as a result of the mother's dependence on drugs during pregnancy. Withdrawal or abstinence symptoms develop shortly after birth. Symptoms exhibited are loud, high-pitched crying, sweating, yawning and gastrointestinal disturbances.	Abstinence Syndrome, Neonatal,Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome,Passive Addiction, Neonatal,Substance Withdrawal, Neonatal,Neonatal Substance Withdrawal,Abstinence Syndromes, Neonatal,Addiction, Neonatal Passive,Addictions, Neonatal Passive,Neonatal Abstinence Syndromes,Neonatal Passive Addiction,Neonatal Passive Addictions,Neonatal Substance Withdrawals,Neonatal Withdrawal Syndromes,Passive Addictions, Neonatal,Substance Withdrawals, Neonatal,Syndrome, Neonatal Abstinence,Syndrome, Neonatal Withdrawal,Syndromes, Neonatal Abstinence,Syndromes, Neonatal Withdrawal,Withdrawal Syndrome, Neonatal,Withdrawal Syndromes, Neonatal,Withdrawal, Neonatal Substance
D009517	New South Wales	A state in southeastern Australia. Its capital is Sydney. It was discovered by Captain Cook in 1770 and first settled at Botany Bay by marines and convicts in 1788. It was named by Captain Cook who thought its coastline resembled that of South Wales. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p840 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p377)
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011297	Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects	The consequences of exposing the FETUS in utero to certain factors, such as NUTRITION PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA; PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS; DRUGS; RADIATION; and other physical or chemical factors. These consequences are observed later in the offspring after BIRTH.	Delayed Effects, Prenatal Exposure,Late Effects, Prenatal Exposure
D002972	Cleft Palate	Congenital fissure of the soft and/or hard palate, due to faulty fusion.	Cleft Palate, Isolated,Cleft Palates,Palate, Cleft,Palates, Cleft