Grey baby syndrome
Background
- A side effect of chloramphenicol affecting newborns of mothers who have been exposed to the drug
- Thought to be related to insufficient ability of the newborn's liver to metabolize the drug, as well as insufficient renal excretion
Clinical Features
- Symptoms usually occur within 1 week of exposure and include:
- Ashen gray color of the skin
- Failure to thrive
- Poor appetite
- Vomiting
- Hypotension
- Hypothermia
Differential Diagnosis
Sick Neonate
THE MISFITS [1]
- Trauma
- Heart
- Congenital heart disease
- Hypovolemia
- Endocrine
- Metabolic
- Sodium
- Calcium
- Glucose
- Inborn errors of metabolism
- Seizure
- Formula / feeding problems
- Intestinal Disasters
- Toxin
- Sepsis
Evaluation
- Assess for alternate diagnoses
Management
- Stop chloramphenicol exposure
- Exchange transfusion
- Sometimes phenobarbital used for UGT induction
Disposition
- Admit
See Also
External Links
References
- ↑ Brousseau T, Sharieff GQ. Newborn emergencies: the first 30 days of life. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2006 Feb;53(1):69-84, vi.