TERATOGENS Flashcards
■ Any factor, chemical or physical that adversely affects the fertilized ovum, embryo or fetus.
■ Common teratogens include some medications, recreational drugs, tobacco products, chemicals, alcohol, certain infections, and in some cases, uncontrolled health problems in the birthing parent.
■ Alcohol is a well-known teratogen that can cause harmful effects on the fetus after exposure at any time during pregnancy.
TERATOGENS
+ The dysgenesis of fetal organs as evidenced either structurally or functionally.
+ These abnormalities vary in severity and major malformations may be life-threatening or may have cosmetic functional effects and require major surgery.
Teratogenesis
Restricted growth or death of the fetus, carcinogenesis, and malformations (defects in organ structure or function)
Because any medications can present risks in pregnancy, and because not all risks are known, the safest pregnancy-related pharmacy is as little pharmacy as possible.
Manifestations
• Each drug should be assessed, and its risks and benefits should be weighed.
• Prescribing drugs for women during the antenatal and postnatal period is balancing act and that no risk-free alternatives exist.
Safety Risk
+ Can involve either sexually transmitted or systemic infections
+ Organism that can cross the placenta can be viral, bacterial or protozoan.
+ Most cause relatively mild, flulike symptoms in a woman but can have much more serious effects on a fetus or newborn
TERATOGENIC MATERNAL INFECTIONS
was used to treat morning sickness during pregnancy. But it was found to cause severe birth defects such as phocomelia and amelia.
THALIDOMIDE
is a rare condition that causes very short limbs
Phocomelia
is the birth defect of lacking one or more limbs
Amelia
when an individual is born with phocomelia due to drugs or pharmaceuticals, it is known as thalidomide syndrome.
The symptoms of thalidomide syndrome are defined by absent or shortened limbs, causing flipper hands and feet.
Flipper baby syndrome
Is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in the body.
Used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, acne, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and others tooth enamel deficiencies and possible long bone deformities that were originally formed normally.
TETRACYCLINE
+ Caused by viral infection that causes a red rash on the body.
+ Aside from the rash, it usually has a fever and swollen lymph nodes.
+ Infection that mostly affects the skin and lymph nodes.
+ The infection can spread from person to person through contact with droplets from an infected person’s sneeze or cough.
Rubella Virus
German Measles
Teratogenic effects are:
• Cardiac defects (commonly ductus arteriosus and pulmonary stenosis)
• IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Retardation)
• Patent Ductus Art
• Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)
• Thrombocytopenia purpura
• Facial cleft (cleft lip and palate)
TORCH
an abbreviation collectively the diseases that are known to Cross the Placenta
To-toxoplasmosis
R-rubella
C-cytomegalovirus
H-herpes simplex
Protozoan infections are parasitic diseases caused by organism’s protozoa (e.g., Amoebic dysentery, and malaria).
Protozoan infection, ingestion of raw or inadequately cooked meat, handling cat stool in soil.
TOXOPLASMOSIS
Preventive Measures
+ Avoid intake of undercooked meats + Avoid changing cat litter box
+ Avoid working in the soil in he area where cats may defecate
