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Alternative names
Gray baby syndrome; Chloramphenicol toxicity in newbornsDefinition Return to top
Chloramphenicol is an antibacterial medication used to fight gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial infection, and is sometimes used for meningitis. If given to a newborn, however, it can be toxic (poisonous) and fatal.Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top
"Gray syndrome" occurs if newborns (especially premature babies) are given chloramphenicol for a bacterial infection. Babies this young do not have the necessary enzymes that allow the liver to metabolize this drug appropriately.
The chloramphenicol accumulates in the baby's blood stream, causing hypotension (low blood pressure), cyanosis (blue coloring of lips, nail beds, and skin from lack of oxygen in the blood), and often death.
Symptoms Return to top
Symptoms usually begin 2 to 9 days after treatment has been started.
Treatment Return to top
Overdoses can be treated with an exchange transfusion which involves removing aliquots (portions) of the baby's blood and replacing it with donated blood.
Prevention Return to top
Chloramphenicol is generally not given to newborns or premature infants. It can be given safely at appropriately adjusted lower doses. However, with newer drugs available for bacterial infections, the use chloramphenicol has decreased dramatically.
Chloramphenicol may be passed on to an infant through breast milk, and therefore may be unsafe for the mother to take during pregnancy. Do not take it without seeking advice from your physician if you are either pregnant or nursing.
Update Date: 1/21/2004 Updated by: Philip L. Graham III, M.D., M.S., F.A.A.P., Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of New York, Columbia University, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |