Abstract
To investigate a high incidence of congenital malformations, morbidity and mortality in infants of drug abusing mothers. In a 10 and a half year period from 1984-95, 497 such babies were reviewed whose mothers had abused a variety of drugs. 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. 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.
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