Mother's Tobacco Addiction Elevates Nicotine Levels in Newborn

A seemingly ordinary birth at a hospital in Mehsana became perilous when a newborn, delivered via a caesarean section, did not cry and turned pale blue in color.

Pregnant women who consume tobacco products are at risk of harming the developing baby, particularly affecting the tissues of the lungs and brain. However, there is a lack of awareness among the general public regarding the negative effects of tobacco consumption.

A seemingly routine birth at a hospital in Mehsana in Gujarat took a perilous turn when a newborn, delivered through a caesarean section, failed to cry and turned blue. The child, weighing 2.4kg, had to be immediately placed on a ventilator as his health rapidly deteriorated.

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia-Paehernia-Detection-After Delivery-Effects
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia can be detected before birth with prenatal ultrasound scan. The presence of a hole in the diaphragm results in breathing difficulties due to incomplete growth of lungs.

‘The nicotine levels in the newborn baby of a mother who used tobacco during her pregnancy were found to be 3000 percent higher than the permissible levels for adults, measuring 60 ng/ml. #Pregnancy #Newborn #Nicotine #TobaccoUse ’

In a desperate attempt to save his life, doctors transferred him to a tertiary neonatal hospital in Ahmedabad. Initially presumed to be a case of asphyxiation at birth, the medical team discovered something unexpected. The newborn's critical condition was attributed to extremely high levels of nicotine in his bloodstream, stemming from his mother's addiction to tobacco.

Shockingly, the child's nicotine levels were 3000 percent above the permissible levels for adults, measuring 60 ng/ml. Expressing remorse, the mother reflected on her habits, saying, "In our village, both men and women regularly consume tobacco. I started consuming tobacco when I was 15. I never realized that the habit could jeopardize my child's health."

After Five Days of Treatment, the Child Shows Signs of Recovery

The child's father, also addicted to "mawa," vowed to quit the habit, recognizing the risks it posed to his family's well-being. "When the child came to us, he appeared to be a healthy child who had fallen into a coma. While he was initially diagnosed with birth asphyxia, his symptoms did not align with typical cases, as he showed no signs of neurological damage." said Dr. Ashish Mehta, a senior neonatologist, who described the situation.

Disorders Included in Newborn Screening
Disorders included in newborn screening in US and India are discussed. Most disorders are either inherited disorders or developmental defects in vital organs such as heart. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of these are key to overall improved outcome.

To unravel this medical mystery, the medical team delved into the child and mother's history. They discovered that the mother, unknowingly, had been exposing her fetus to high nicotine levels by frequently consuming tobacco in sachets or raw form, which she purchased from local pan shops. She chewed tobacco approximately 10-15 times a day, unaware of the danger it posed to her unborn child. Gujarat, known as the epicenter of oral cancer, grapples with the widespread addiction to chewing tobacco.

According to the National Family Health Survey 5 conducted in 2020, 41 percent of men and 8.7 percent of women in the state consume tobacco (). Alarmingly, this addiction is now affecting newborns. After five days of treatment, the child showed signs of recovery and was discharged. Dr. Mehta consulted international experts who emphasized the immense benefits of breastfeeding, advising the mother to abstain from tobacco while nursing.

Prevent Meningitis in Newborns With New Blood-Brain Barrier Model
A newly developed organ-on-a-chip platform that closely mimics in vivo conditions can help to understand the mechanism behind life-threatening bacterial infection meningitis.

Reference:

Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya releases NFHS-5 report - (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1823047)

Source-IANS

Elevated Hair Cortisol Levels in Newborns Cause Sleep Difficulties
Sleep patterns of infants can be anticipated based on cortisol levels during the later stages of pregnancy, says a new study to be presented at the annual meeting of SLEEP 2023.