Gray Baby Syndrome – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and More

Having a healthy baby is something that every mother desires. This is why it is important to take care of yourself throughout your pregnancy with the right diet, exercise, and medical care. You should remember not to take any new medicines without consulting your doctor as certain medications can cause serious birth defects or other health complications for your child. Gray Baby Syndrome is one such condition.

What is Grey Baby Syndrome?

This is a potentially fatal health complication that can occur in newborn or premature babies as a result of an overdose of the antibiotic chloramphenicol administered either to the infant or the mother. Since babies cannot break down high dosages of this drug, it can accumulate in the bloodstream leading to cardiovascular collapse. The fatality rate stands at 40% of all cases.

Other Names of Gray Baby Syndrome

Gray Baby Syndrome is also known as

• Chloramphenicol Toxicity in Newborns ,
• Chloramphenicol Toxicity in Neonates, and
• Gray Syndrome from Chloramphenicol Administration in Newborn.

Who Can Get This Syndrome (Sex and Age Wise Distribution)?

This syndrome usually appears soon after the birth of the baby and has been found to occur equally in both genders. Children up to the age of two years are more vulnerable to this condition though less than newborns. Studies have not indicated any kind of racial or ethnic predilections.

About Chloramphenicol

Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections such as meningitis when other medications have failed to work. Owing to the influx of newer medicines and due to the risk of Gray Baby Syndrome, use of chloramphenicol use has come downreduced over the years. The drug, found in eye drops and ointments used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis is also known to cause bone marrow toxicity. It is usually administered intravenously to patients.

Causes of Gray Baby Syndrome

Use of chloramphenicol is the primary cause of Gray Baby Syndrome. Newborns cannot process or excrete high amounts of chloramphenicol and as a result it can build up to toxic levels in the blood stream which can prove fatal. Chloramphenicol might also be given to pregnant women for treatment of certain bacterial infections and this can then get passed on to the foetus. Nursing mothers who have been administered chloramphenicol can pass this on to their children through breast milk.

Risk Factors for Gray Baby Syndrome

When a newborn is given chloramphenicol within the first three days of birth without monitoring of the drug levels in the blood, it puts them at a risk of this condition. Premature infants and under- nourished or underweight babies are at a greater risk of developing Gray Baby Syndrome. Babies of pregnant or lactating women who have been administered this drug are also at risk.

How the Diagnosis is Done?

A thorough physical examination as well as the analysis of the medical treatments provided to the infant and its her mother is essential for arriving at a diagnosis. The levels of chloramphenicol in the blood will have to be measured at regular intervals and additional tests performed before your doctor can arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

Symptoms of Gray Baby Syndrome

The symptoms of this condition are likely to surface anywhere between two to nine days after treatment begins. These can include

• Vomiting
• Low blood pressure
• Low body temperature
• Bluish tinge to the lips and skin
• Abdominal swelling
• Green coloured stools
• Irregular heartbeat
• Difficulty breathing and refusal to breastfeed

What are Possible Complications?

If there is delay in starting treatment or diagnosing the illness, different type of complications can result. They are:

• Problems with blood circulation that can bring about cardiovascular collapse. This can result in death also.
• Bone marrow depression where the body stops production of new platelets and other blood cells leading to bleeding and infections.
• Secondary disorders or infections can worsen the situation especially in babies which are under nourished or born pre-term.

Treatments for Gray Baby Syndrome

Early treatment is the best way to win against this disease and the first step would be to discontinue the medication if it is being given to the baby. If you are being medicated with chloramphenicol, then the first thing to do is to stop breastfeeding. The baby will have to be hospitalised for treatment which can include the following procedures:

• Exchange Transfusion: Here, part of your baby’s blood will be removed and replaced with freshly donated blood or plasma using a catheter.
• Haemodialysis: With this the toxins are removed from your baby’s bloodstream and a balance is achieved in potassium and sodium levels to stabilise the baby’s blood pressure.

Besides these, oxygen therapy or hemoperfusion may also be done to help your baby recover.

How to Prevent This Condition?

Avoiding chloramphenicol as a medication for infants and not using it when pregnant or lactating is the best way of preventing this condition. Ask your doctor for alternate medication if chloramphenicol is prescribed when you are at risk.

Prognosis of Gray Syndrome

There is a good prognosis for gray baby syndrome. Chloramphenicol is the culprit and discontinuing this medication immediately on early diagnosis can result in a complete recovery. But the slightest of delays in detecting the presence of this drug can prove fatal. The prognosis might change depending on the overall health and well-being of the child. Preterm babies and malnourished children may not do as well as healthy and full term infants.

Conclusion

Though chloramphenicol can be dangerous, taking it under the guidance of a doctor and only in the prescribed dosage usually does not lead to Gray Baby Syndrome. In such instances, blood levels will be constantly monitored to ensure the drug is not present in excess in the bloodstream. The use of chloramphenicol has declined significantly with the emergence of other safer alternatives.

Disclaimer: This information is just a guide and not a substitute for medical advice from a qualified professional.