AT first glance, a bouncing baby has been born with a "naughty wakefulness" and a healthy appetite.

But appearances can be deceiving.

Inside, the tiny youngster's body is in a distressing turmoil, which left untreated, will lead to convulsions and possible disability or death.

The baby has been born with a hard drug addiction - methadone or heroin - and is suffering severe withdrawal symptoms.

The "naughty wakefulness" is not wilful and the apparent "healthy appetite" belies a more sinister inability to feed properly.

In addition to these side effects, the baby suffers from the jitters and in some cases vomiting, rapid breathing and occasional sores on the face.

All can be diagnosed within the first 48 hours of the child's life - at most within a week.

But medical staff are desperately urging expectant mothers who have a drug habit to let them know before the baby is born.

A Bolton hospital child care expert, explained: "We want ladies to come forward.

"There is a fear among them that if they do, we will take their babies from them, but this is not the case. Nor are we going to make them stop taking the drugs.

"But what we can do is try to control it, and as a result the baby is not as badly affected.

"Otherwise, women more than often do not stay in hospital long after giving birth, and could end up going back home, treating the child as though it is nothing more than a naughty, very hungry baby.

"It will not sleep very long between feeds. It will constantly appear to be hungry, yet will not feed well.

"While most new babies are difficult to deal with, if not treated, these babies could make a young mother want to tear her hair out."

But worse still, if left undiagnosed, the youngsters' conditions will rapidly decline, leading to convulsions, which can prove fatal or damaging to the baby.

Treatment can take about a month, during which time the baby is kept in hospital. In Bolton, they are normally orally given prescribed doses of morphine, six or four hourly, which the youngsters quite happily lap up. In addition, the babies are wrapped up firmly in blankets, rocked gently and given plenty of patience.

Eventually, they are weaned off their dependency on the drug.

The expert added: "The recovery process can take quite some time, which again, is another reason for expectant mothers to let us know before the birth that they are dependant on drugs. That way help can be found for them during their baby's stay in hospital.

"The problems with methadone are on the increase. Sometimes we will get a mother who has taken a mixture of drugs, but fortunately, I have yet to see a baby born with Crack addiction in Bolton, which can be extremely traumatic."

Addiction to amphetamines leads to irritability in a new born baby, which can last just several days.

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