The birth of a child is happy occasion. Tragedy that leads to the death of a child can be unbearable. This is especially the case in infant deaths that may be avoided. Gray syndrome occurs when newborns are given a lethal dose of chloramphenicol. Here’s treat Gray syndrome.
Instructions
1. Get a transfusion. When babies are given chloramphenicol, contaminated aliquots in the blood have to be removed. This can only occur with a transfusion.
2. Review all medicines given to a child. The use of chloramphenicol has diminished greatly with the advent of new meds to fight bacterial infections. Parents should be updated immediately on any medications given to a child as well as the reasons for administering the drug.
3. Keep the newborn away from a breast feeding mother who is taking chloramphenicol. The mother can pass the drug along to the child through breast milk. The result can be just as deadly as if it were administered in a hospital.
4. Check the newborn for symptoms of Gray syndrome and, if symptoms are observed, follow up immediately with your physician. Symptoms of Gray syndrome include: limpness in body, blue lips, blue nails and bluish tint to the skin from lack of oxygen in the blood, low blood pressure, low body temperature, vomiting, refusal to breast feed and green stool.
5. Determine how long the child has been experiencing symptoms. Gray syndrome has a very short time line. Symptoms begin to appear two to nine days after the overdose occurs. Knowing exactly when symptoms occurred will give parents and doctors perspective on how long until possible death.
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