Final answer:
Neonatal narcotic withdrawal, known as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, includes signs such as hyperactivity, excessive crying, temperature instability, irritability, and more severe symptoms like seizures. Methadone can be prescribed to mitigate these symptoms in heroin withdrawal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question regarding the signs and symptoms of neonatal narcotic withdrawal is option b) Hyperactivity and excessive crying. Neonatal narcotic withdrawal, also known as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), is a result of the sudden discontinuation of the exposure to substances that the fetus becomes dependent on during gestation. The symptoms of NAS can include temperature instability, apnea (cessation of breathing), bradycardia (slow heart rate), hypotension, difficulty feeding, irritability, and limpness. Severe cases may progress to seizures, bulging fontanel, stiff neck, opisthotonos, and hemiparesis. Withdrawal may also present with miosis (pinpoint pupils), muscle twitching, and excessive secretions/sweating.
These symptoms often manifest shortly after birth and are sometimes managed with a gradual tapering off of the substance using a substitute like methadone, which is less euphoric than heroin and can help alleviate withdrawal symptoms. When a person with a heroin addiction is prescribed methadone, it is done to mitigate the severe symptoms of opioid withdrawal that can resemble a severe case of the flu, though they are not generally life-threatening.