Clinical profile of apparently healthy neonates with in utero drug exposure.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the characteristics of neonates exposed to drugs in utero but admitted to the normal newborn nursery because of apparent good health.


METHODS
Retrospective evaluation with chart review of toxicology screening tests sent from a normal newborn nursery.


METHODS
Newborn service in an urban hospital.


METHODS
Fifty newborns with positive drug screening results.


RESULTS
Frequency of positive results and assessment of demographic features and neonates' clinical features.


RESULTS
43 (86%) of the apparently healthy newborns tested positive for cocaine. The results of simultaneous or proximate drug testing of mothers and their newborns were discordant in 11 (22%) cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Neonates with in utero drug exposure often are born with few or no signs of abnormality and are admitted to the normal newborn nursery.
Hite
C
C
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston.
Shannon
M
M
D001034:Apgar Score; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000592:standards*; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000592:standards*; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000592:standards*