Measure seeks study of newborns hurt by mothers’ prescription drugs. Published: Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 1:27 a.m. last Modified: Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 1:27 a.m.

TALLAHASSEE | Rep. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, is taking the offensive against a growing health problem in Florida: Newborns addicted to their mothers’ prescription drugs.

Stargel’s task force bill, which asks for a study on the situation, will go before the full House of Representatives for a vote next week.

This developing crisis is different from 20 years ago when the focus was on children born to crack and methamphetamine addicts.

Instead, Stargel said, Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome or Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome are more often associated with “soccer moms” and professional women.

The task force was urged by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Stargel said that because of the prescription drug abuse in Florida, hospitals and health care providers are seeing a drastic increase in the number of babies being born who are suffering from the effects of drugs taken by their mothers during pregnancy.

“This is a different kind of addiction from crack and meth,” Stargel said. “This situation is from prescription drugs. we are not ?looking at creating criminal laws here; we want to understand the problem and help mothers understand and know how a legally prescribed drug for back trouble or maybe knee injury can affect their baby.”

There has to be education, she said.

“One thing we’ve learned is that some mothers immediately stop taking the prescription (when they learn they are pregnant), but that, too, can harm the baby. so we need to find the answers and get them to the mothers,” Stargel said.

According to a slide presentation “Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome” by Dr. Osama Naga of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, the drugs oxycodone, methadone, morphine, codeine and buprenorhine are the most frequent causes of Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome.

Symptoms can include tremors, increased wakefulness, increased muscle tone, seizures and increased sweating. It is described as “a multisystem disorder involving the central nervous system, gastrointestinal system and the respiratory system,” brought on by drugs used by the mother and passed to the fetus.

Stargel’s bill, House Bill 227, the Task Force on Prescription Drug Abuse and Newborns, has cleared three committees and is expected to come before the full House next week.

It would create a task force to collect and study data on Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome in Florida and ways to make the public and especially expectant mothers more aware.

The task force would be charged specifically with developing policy to be recommended to the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate to be implemented by the Legislature.

“It is something people can innocently find themselves in,” said Lisa Patterson, public affairs officer for St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital in Tampa. “There are all kinds of scenarios that can lead to this by people who quite necessarily are taking medications during pregnancy or become addicted to them.”

The Senate bill, SB 402, by Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, also is awaiting a floor vote. Negron said he witnessed the problem firsthand.

“Often we wait until a major crisis drops on us,” Negron said, “but we are starting on this in the early stages. I happened to visit a neonatal unit in South Florida and there was one baby there red-faced and looking very stressed and shaking. The nurse said the baby had been born addicted to prescription drugs.

“It is extremely painful to the baby, especially when being taken off the addiction. Life is tough enough. Everyone deserves to start out in life evenly,” said Negron who called it his most important bill of the session.

Even though the bill has widespread support, sponsors say they are moving as fast as they can. A lot of “good bills” have been caught in the door when the final week’s rush of bills begins.

[ Bill Rufty can be contacted at bill.rufty@theledger.com or 863-802-7523. ]

When I was pregnant with my daughter last year, my OB/GYN recommended that I receive the pertussis, or “whooping cough” vaccine right after delivery. Hearing the words “whooping cough,” made me think of polio or smallpox, diseases that had been eliminated in the U.S. years ago.

Yet pertussis is a real threat, particularly in infants who not only have the greatest risk for contracting pertussis, but the most reported cases. in 2010, there were more than four thousand babies who were known to be infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Plus, newborns younger than 2 months old, the age that the first vaccine is administered, are most likely to have complications like pneumonia, convulsions, even death. Sixty-three percent of babies under one year are hospitalized each year and 25 babies died from pertussis in 2010. And because some cases are undiagnosed or go unreported, experts agree these numbers may be even higher.

The reason that rates of pertussis have been on the rise in recent years and tend to peak every 3-5 years is because of a waning of immunity, according to Dr. Thomas Clark, a medical epidemiologist for the CDC.  The disease is very easily transmitted so if there’s a portion of the population that’s susceptible because they haven’t received the booster vaccine, which is recommended during the adolescent and adult years, then the bacteria will transmit more readily.

What To Look ForPertussis is a bacterial disease that causes severe fits of coughing—so severe, that it forces all the air out of the lungs and results in a “whoop” sound when the person is finally able to inhale. yet initially, symptoms may be similar to the common cold and include a mild cough or low-grade fever.  And in very young infants, whooping cough can cause apnea, or a pause in breathing, which is a sign of a very serious infection, according to Clark.  Babies often contract pertussis from someone in the home – mom, dad, or a caregiver, although they can also catch it in hospitals and daycare settings.

Protect Yourself and your BabyIf you’re pregnant, you should receive the pertussis booster vaccine (Tdap) during the late second or third trimester, according to a revised recommendation by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices issued last year. Women who don’t receive it during pregnancy are urged to get it immediately after giving birth. Family members and caregivers should get vaccinated, too, and it’s important to keep your baby away from anyone who has cold or cough symptoms.

Babies should receive the pertussis vaccination series on time, starting at 2 months old, then at 4 and 6 months old and booster doses between 15 and 18 months and then between 4 and 6 years old. “Protection wanes actually pretty quickly,” according to Clark who says booster doses are important to ensure your child is protected.

Julie Revelant is a freelance writer specializing in parenting, health, and women’s issues and a mom. Learn more about Julie at revelantwriting.com

Pertussis (whopping cough) is very contagious and can cause serious illness especially in infants too young to be fully vaccinated. Make sure your children get their recommended five shots on time. Teen and adult vaccination is also important, especially for families with newborns.Pertussis (whopping cough) is caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. Among vaccine-preventable diseases, pertussis is one of the most commonly occurring ones in the United States.Pertussis Vaccine ProtectionThere is high vaccine coverage for children nationwide. however, protection from the childhood vaccine fades over time. Adolescents and adults need to be revaccinated, even if they were completely vaccinated as children.Also, pertussis vaccines are very effective but not 100 percent effective. If pertussis is circulating in the community, there is still a chance that a fully vaccinated person can catch this very contagious disease. When you or your child develops a cold that includes a prolonged or severe cough, it may be pertussis. The best way to know is to contact your doctor.Pertussis SymptomsPertussis can cause serious illness in infants, children and adults. The disease starts like the common cold, with runny nose or congestion, sneezing, and maybe mild cough or fever. But after one-two weeks, severe coughing can begin.unlike the common cold, pertussis can become a series of coughing fits that continues for weeks. Pertussis can cause violent and rapid coughing, over and over, until the air is gone from the lungs and you are forced to inhale with a loud “whopping” sound.  In infants, the cough can be minimal or not even there.Infants may have a symptom known as “apnea.” Apnea is a pause in the child’s breathing pattern.Disease ComplicationsPertussis is most severe for babies; more than half of infants younger than one year of age who get the disease must be hospitalized. About one in five infants with pertussis get pneumonia (lung infection), and about one in 100 will have convulsions. In rare cases (one in 100), pertussis can be deadly, especially in infants.how Pertussis SpreadsPeople with pertussis usually spread the disease by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others, who then breathe in the pertussis bacteria. many infants who get pertussis are infected by parents, older siblings, or other caregivers who might not even know they have the disease.Pertussis OutbreaksReported cases of whopping cough vary from year to year and tend to peak every three-five years. In 2010, 27,550 cases of pertussis were reported in the U.S.-and many more cases go unreported. Twenty-seven deaths were reported – 25 of these deaths were in children younger than one year old. Since the 1980s, there’s been an increase in the number of cases of pertussis, especially among teens (10-19 years of age) and babies younger than six months of age.Preventing PertussisThe best way to prevent pertussis is to get vaccinated. Parents can also help protect infants by keeping them away as much as possible from anyone who has cold symptoms or is coughing.Vaccine RecommendationsFor Infants and Children: In the US, the recommended pertussis vaccine for children is called DTaP. this is a safe and effective combination vaccine that protects children against three diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. for maximum protection against pertussis, children need five DTaP shots. The first three shots are given at two, four and six months of age. The fourth shot is given between 15 and 18 months of age, and a fifth shot is given when a child enters school, at four-six years of age. If a seven-10 year old is not up-to-date with DTaP vaccines, a dose of Tdap should be given  before the 11-12 year old check up.for pre-teens and adolescents: vaccine protection for pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria can fade with time. Pre-teens going to the doctor for their regular check-up at age 11 or 12 years should get a booster vaccine, called Tdap. Teens and young adults who didn’t get a booster as a pre-teen should get one dose when they visit their health care provider.for Adults: Adults who didn’t get Tdap as a pre-teen or teen should get one dose of Tdap. most pregnant women who were not previously vaccinated with Tdap should get one dose of Tdap postpartum before leaving the hospital or birthing center. Getting vaccinated with Tdap is especially important for families with and caregivers of new infants. Adults 65 years and older who have close contact with infants should get a dose of Tdap, following the newest vaccine recommendations.The easiest thing for adults to do is to get Tdap instead of their next regular tetanus booster-the Td shot that is recommended for adults every 10 years. The dose of Tdap can be given earlier than the 10-year mark, so it’s a good idea for adults to talk to a health care provider about what’s best for their specific situation.for more information regarding Pertussis, contact the Pike County Health Department, Home Health & Hospice at (573) 324-2111.Source:  cdc.gov/Features/pertussis/

Its shocking that 1 in 4 teens have been diagnosed with an STD. Out of 800,000 CDC/niaid cases world wide 63 million are diagnosed with Gonorrhea. More teens are admitting to be sexually active as well as having multiple partners. It’s time to educate ourselves as well as today’s’ young adults. We need to learn the facts, raise awareness, teach prevention, and offer support to those diagnosed and receiving treatment.

It is a bacteria, Neisseria Gonorrhoeae, that survives and multiplies in the reproductive tract, mouth, throat, eyes and rectum. it affects men, woman and newborns with infected mothers.

The infection is passed from an infected partner by contact with the penis, vagina, mouth or rectum, or through sexual excretions. Though ejaculation doesn’t have to occur for the disease to spread.

Any person is at risk of contracting this infection though rates are higher in sexually active teenagers and young adults under 25. Teens can be informed of prevention methods ranging from the always popular abstinence campaign to remaining monogamous in relationships with uninfected partners. Latex condoms and plastic barriers are also effective.

Once infected the incubation period takes about 1-14 days. within 2-5 days men begin showing mild symptoms usually in the morning. For this reason symptoms can be shrugged off and the infection remains undiagnosed. Symptoms for men include: swollen testicles and prostate, and green, yellow or white discharge from the penis. only 1 in 10 men are asymptomatic.

While such a large percentage of men show symptoms only 1 in 5 woman have mild symptoms if any. of those reported some are: increased vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding between periods, lower abdominal pain, painful intercourse, vomiting, fever, and the urge to urinate more frequently.

Both males and females experience painful urination. Rectal and oral infections produce different symptoms. Anal itching, discharge, soreness, bleeding and painful bowel movements indicate a rectal infection. only 1 in 10 cases of oral infection produce symptoms. a sore, itching throat are the only warning, though oral infections are rare.

If any of these symptoms are present the person should be checked by a health care professional. especially if pregnant. Pregnant women who suspect they may be infected should consult a medical professional to be tested. She can pass Gonorrhea to her newborn during delivery that can result in blindness, joint infection and a life threatening blood infection.

Several antibiotics cure Gonorrhea once its been detected. The infected individual is usually tested for other STD’s like Chlamydia since these infections are often present at the same time and can be treated together. This is in contrast with the herpes treatment Dynamiclear which is not a permanent cure.

If left untreated can cause life threatening complications. Men can become sterile, and women can develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), blocked fallopian tubes, long term pelvic pain and life threatening ectopic pregnancy.

Teens are uneducated and lacking information that could assist them in making better choices. they aren’t seeking proper medical care for infections like Gonorrhea, because they’re unaware of symptoms if any are present. The best way to stop the spread of STD’s is to teach safe sex, monogamy with an uninfected long term partner and abstinence.

1. Why Parents Should Talk to their Teens About STDs
2. Could you Have a Chlamydia Infection?
3. Yeast Infections – what you Should Know
4. Common Mental Health Disorders among Teens
5. What you Should know About Herpes

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States, with about three million new cases diagnosed in the country each year. The disease is caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. The following areas in the body can be affected:

• cervix
• fallopian tubes, which carry ova (eggs) from the ovaries to the uterus
• urethra, which carries urine from the bladder to outside the body
• epididymis, a small organ attached to the testicles that is responsible for sperm production
• prostate gland, a gland at the base of the penis which provides nutrients for sperm
• anus
• throat
• eyes

In addition, Chlamydia trachomatis also causes lung and eye infections in newborns whose mothers have a chlamydial infection during the last part of their pregnancy .

Chlamydia is most often found in sexually active adolescents aged 15–19. Data gathered by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggest that sexually active girls in this age group may account for up to 46% of chlamydial infections.

According to the CDC, approximately 40% of women infected with chlamydia will develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). If untreated, 18% of women with PID will have chronic inflammatory pain . In addition, chlamydia may cause extensive damage to the fallopian tubes. Scarring can block the tube and prevent the egg from being fertilized. as a result, one of every five women with PID will not be able to conceive. Tube scarring may also cause the fertilized egg to be trapped inside the tube, unable to reach the uterus. when the fertilized egg develops inside the tube rather than in the uterus, the condition is called tubal pregnancy. The condition is potentially fatal if the tube ruptures. In America, tubal pregnancy is the number one cause of death of women in early pregnancy.

Cause

Chlamydia is caused by a bacterial parasite called Chlamydia trachomatis. The organism lives inside humans, who act as hosts. It is dependent on humans for energy because it is unable to produce energy for itself. C. trachomatis often causes genital and urinary tract infections in sexually active men and women.

Mode of transmission

A person can be infected with C. trachomatis by:

• having sex (oral, genital, or anal) with an infected partner
• sharing infected sex toys
• passing through the infected birth canal of a mother who has chlamydia
• sex abuse in children

Risk factors

The following are risk factors for contracting chlamydia infections:

• Age. Young sexually active people aged 15–19 are most frequently affected.
• Race. Blacks contract this disease more often than whites or Hispanics.
• Marital status. Chlamydia is most often found in single women. Married women have the lowest risk.
• Behavioral factors. Douching increases risk of chlamydial infections. Smoking also increases one’s risk of contracting this disease. those who have sex with many different partners or with strangers are at high risk. also at increased risk are those who have unprotected sex with partners of unknown disease status. Previous induced abortions also increase a woman’s chance of getting this disease.
• Socio-economic status. Poor, uneducated women living in big cities are more often affected by this disease.
• Postpartum period. Increased risk of contracting chlamydia is observed during the period immediately

after giving birth or undergoing an induced abortion. this is because the cervix is not entirely closed, allowing more chance for becoming infected.

Symptoms

Approximately 75% of women do not have symptoms. If a woman is going to have any symptoms, they should develop one to three weeks after she is infected. her symptoms may include:

• burning pain during urination
• more frequent urination
• abnormal vaginal discharge
• dull pelvic pain
• bleeding between periods and after sexual intercourse
• menstrual bleeding that is heavier than usual
• more painful periods

Chlamydia infection in men may develop in the urethra, epididymis and/or the prostate. Approximately 50% of infected men do not have any symptoms. If he is going to have symptoms, they should develop one to three weeks after he is infected. His symptoms may include:

• burning pain during urination
• more frequent urination
• white or yellow discharge from the penis
• redness at the tip of the penis
• itchy or irritated urethra (urethritis)
• pain and swelling in the testicles (epididymitis)
• pain between the scrotum and anal area and difficult and frequent urination (prostatitis)

On rare occasions, chlamydia infection in men and women can develop outside of the genital areas. these patients may have infections at the following sites:

• the eyes (due to a contaminated hand touching the eyes): itching , redness and itching of the eyelids
• the throat (following oral sex with infected men): throat irritation or no symptoms
• the anus (following anal intercourse with infected men): rectal bleeding, mucous rectal discharge, diarrhea , and pain with bowel movement.

Diagnosis is based on patients’ history, laboratory testing for chlamydia, and physical exam for men and pelvic exam for women to determine if the patient is infected and/or the extent of infection.

There are several tests available for chlamydial infection. They often require swipes from the site of infection or urine samples. Tests for chlamydia include:

• Cell culture test. this old test is reliable but requires 48–72 hours to complete. It is being replaced by faster and more convenient tests. In 2001, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) receommended routine screening for chlamydia among sexually active young women. one year later, they approved a new test called ThinPrep, a new type of Pap smear that allows doctors to screen for chlamydia, gonorrhea , and the human papillomavirus at the same time women have annual pap exams for cervical cancer.
• Direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) staining. this test is faster than the traditional culture test.
• Enzyme immunoassay (EIA). It is easy to perform and also faster than the traditional culture test but is not as accurate.
• DNA probe. this test is expensive but is more specific and convenient than culture, EIA, or DFA tests. Genital swipe samples are not necessary. Urine tests can provide accurate results.
• Nucleic acid amplification (PCR and LCR) tests. these tests look for genetic material of the organism. these are the tests of choice because they are the most sensitive (more than 90% accurate) and the most specific. They are also convenient because they can be performed on urine samples and do not require a pelvic exam.

In 2002, a presentation to gynecologists pointed out that more doctors should assume some overlap when patients present with symptoms of urinary tract infections. these may signal hidden chlamydia as well. In fact, the two conditions often can be present at the same time.

Alternative therapy should be complementary to antibiotic therapy. Because of the potentially serious nature of this disease, patients should first consult an allopathic physician to start antibiotic treatment for infections. Traditional medicine is better equipped to quickly eradicate the infection while alternative treatments can help the body fight the disease and relieve symptoms associated with this disease. some alternative treatments include nutritional therapy, herbal remedies, traditional Chinese medicine , and homeopathy .

Nutritional therapy

The following dietary changes may be helpful:

• Following a low-fat, high-fiber diet . The diet should include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. these foods contain high amounts of phytonutrients and essential vitamins that help keep the body strong and stimulate the immune system to fight infections.
• Limited intake of fat, sugar, highly processed foods, caffeine , and alcohol, which depresses the immune function.
• Taking a multivitamin/mineral supplement daily.
• Drinking cranberry juice. Cranberry juice helps prevent urinary tract infections.
• Taking acidophilus pills to prevent yeast infections while on antibiotics.
• Eating fresh garlic or taking garlic pills to help fight infection.

Herbal treatment

Echinacea and berberine-containing herbs such as saw palmetto (Serenoa repens ) and goldenseal are natural antibiotics. these herbs can assist the action of prescription antibiotics.

Traditional Chinese medicine

An experienced Chinese herbalist will prepare a specific herbal mixture based on a patient’s specific condition and symptoms.

Homeopathy

A homeopathic practitioner may prescribe a patient-specific remedy to help reduce some of the symptoms associated with disease. Remedies for chlamydial symptoms include Cannabis sativa, Cantharis, and Salidago virga.

Once detected, chlamydia can be easily treated with antibiotics. However, if not detected early enough, scarring of fallopian tubes (and resulting infertility ) may not be preventable. The two most commonly used drugs are azithromycin and doxycycline. Azithromycin is a more expensive drug but is much more convenient to administer. only one dose is needed to treat the disease. Doxycycline is cheaper but needs to be taken twice a day for more than seven days. Because patients tend to stop taking drugs after a few days, doxycycline is not as effective as azithromycin. Therefore, many doctors prefer to give azithromycin. Patients are advised to refrain from sex for a full week after taking azithromycin or until they finish doxycycline treatment.

An infected person should contact all partners within the last two months so that they can be treated for chlamydia.

Infected pregnant women should be given erythromycin for seven days, instead of other drugs, because this drug is safer during pregnancy.

Follow-up testing is done four weeks after drug treatment to see if the infection is eradicated. If tests continues to be positive, the patient will be given another course of antibiotics.

A woman’s prognosis depends on the duration of infection, whether the infection has spread through the uterus and the fallopian tubes, and the number of previous chlamydial infections. If caught early, the disease can be completely cured with antibiotic treatment in seven days. However, if left untreated, chlamydia can spread through the uterus to the fallopian tubes and cause chronic pelvic inflammatory disease. Infertility may occur as a result of serious damage to the female reproductive tract. Potentially fatal tubal pregnancy is also a risk.

Prevention is the most important means of stopping the spread of this disease. The following practices are recommended to prevent the spread of this and other sexually transmitted diseases:

• Abstinence. Abstinence is the only 100% way to prevent chlamydia and other STD infections.
• Monogamy. having a mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner reduces the chance of getting STD infections.
• Avoiding a sexual relationship with an unknown partner or a partner whose infection status is unknown.
• If having sex with an unknown partner, using a barrier contraceptive such as a condom (for men) or diaphragm (for women) is recommended. However, condoms (or diaphragms) are not 100% effective against chlamydia or other STDs.
• Refraining from douching.
• Avoiding sex soon after giving birth or undergoing an induced abortion.
• Getting tested for chlamydia at yearly pelvic examinations.

?Tran, Mai; Odle, Teresa. “Chlamydia.” Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 Dec. 2010 <encyclopedia.com>.

Share and Enjoy:

PETALING JAYA: In severe cases of post-natal depression, mothers harm themselves and their babies, said a consultant psychiatrist.

Prof Dr Hussain Habil said it had also come to his notice that some very disturbed mothers had even tried to flush their newborns down the toilet.

He said such examples depict a serious situation when women are faced with the problem and not getting the proper help or treatment.

Dr Hussain said it was unfortunate that many Malaysians turn to traditional healing without understanding the actual cause of the problem.

“By the time they come to hospital, their condition had deteriorated,” he said, commenting on the incidents of six mothers suffering from post-natal depression who were chased out of their homes by husbands who could not live with their condition.

The incidents were highlighted by the MCA public service and complaints department on Friday.

Dr Hussain advised husbands and other family members to refer the new mothers to an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist or a psychiatrist for treatment as early as possible before their condition deteriorated.

He said post-natal depression was quite common and were easily treated but society’s mindset has to change.

He said as many as 10% to 20% of mothers suffer from some level of post partum blues, such as irritability, paranoia and not eating or sleeping well.

Early symptoms of post-natal depression include mothers not being able to care for themselves and their babies, not wanting to eat, irritable and displaying regressing behaviours, he said.

“With proper treatment, changes could start to be seen even within a week as patients normally begin to eat and sleep normally,” he said, adding that it usually takes two to three months for one to recover.

Dr Hussain said it was important for family members to know that the condition was common and that the mothers were not schizophrenic as some thought.

“While we have medication to treat the mothers, the more important thing is tender loving care and support from husbands,” he said.

When family members reject them or put them down, it could worsen their depression, he said.

“The biggest obstacle to the recovery of the patient is when people hush up the case and not refer them to a doctor because of the social stigma,” he said.