What are considered teratogens?
A teratogen is something that can cause birth defects or abnormalities in a developing embryo or fetus upon exposure. Teratogens include some medications, recreational drugs, tobacco products, chemicals, alcohol, certain infections, and in some cases, health problems such as uncontrolled diabetes in pregnant people.
What are some common causes of atypical development of the fetus?
These factors include genetics; parental health and behaviors (such as smoking and drinking) during pregnancy; complications during birth; infections the mother might have during pregnancy or the baby might have very early in life; and exposure of the mother or child to high levels of environmental toxins, such as lead …
What is teratogenic action?
Teratogenic drugs: A teratogen is an agent that can disturb the development of the embryo or fetus. Teratogens halt the pregnancy or produce a congenital malformation (a birth defect). Classes of teratogens include radiation, maternal infections, chemicals, and drugs.
How do you stop teratogenicity?
Do not use chemicals that may harm your child – This includes pesticides, fungicides, rodenticides, or harsh cleaning products. Do not smoke, use drugs or consume alcohol during pregnancy – These teratogens greatly increase the risk of fetal birth defects and other life threatening conditions.
What is a teratogenic drug?
Drugs that can cause birth defects are said to be ‘teratogenic drugs’. Medical science cannot always predict how exposure to a teratogenic drug will affect a developing fetus. It can be dangerous for a pregnant woman to stop taking prescription drugs if she has a medical condition or becomes ill.
Can you tell if your baby is disabled before it’s born?
Are all birth defects discovered before a baby is born? It’s not always possible to detect all birth defects in utero. However, high-resolution ultrasounds done by certified prenatal ultrasound groups make it possible to diagnose defects that will cause a significant impact before birth.
Can mental retardation be detected during pregnancy?
In families with a history of genetic disorders, genetic testing may be recommended before conception. Certain tests, such as ultrasound and amniocentesis, can also be performed during pregnancy to look for problems associated with intellectual disability.
Which drugs cause teratogenicity?
Drugs that are capable of acting as teratogens include:
- ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors such as:
- Acne medication isotretinoin (Accutane, Retin-A).
- Alcohol ingested chronically or in binges.
- Androgens (male hormones).
- Antibiotics tetracycline (Achromycin), and doxycycline (Vibramycin), and streptomycin.
What is teratogenic effects in pregnancy?
Teratogens are substances or other factors that can cause congenital abnormalities, which are also called birth defects. Usually these abnormalities arise in the third to eighth weeks of pregnancy, when the major organ systems are forming.
What vitamins prevent birth defects?
Folic Acid is An Important Vitamin Folic acid is a vitamin found in many foods and multivitamin supplements. It’s especially important for women who could become pregnant because folic acid can help prevent birth defects.
What are teratogens and why are they dangerous?
Teratogens are substances that may produce physical or functional defects in the human embryo or fetus after the pregnant woman is exposed to the substance.
What are teratogenic effects of chemical exposure?
Teratogenic effects are dependent on the nature of the teratogen, including chemical properties of the chemical, route of exposure, maternal/fetal bioactivation, placental transport, etc. Teratogens produce a consistent deviation from normal development.
How does exposure to the teratogen affect the fetus?
Exposure to the teratogen affects the fetus or embryo in a variety of ways, such as the duration of exposure, the amount of teratogenic substance, and the stage of development the embryo or fetus is in during the exposure.
What does teratogens mean in the Bible?
Teratogens. In Babylon, many said that infants with congenital malformations, or structural abnormalities present at birth, were constellations in human forms as well as fortune-tellers. Many early Hebrews said that abnormal development resulted from the deformed person’s association with the devil.