Terratogens

Terratogens- any drug, virus or irradiation, the exposure to such may cause damage to the fetus

A.      Drugs:

Streptomycin – anti TB & or Quinine (anti malaria) – damage to 8^th cranial nerve – poor hearing & deafness

Tetracycline – staining tooth enamel, inhibit growth of long bone

Vitamin K – hemolysis (destr of RBC), hyperbilirubenia or jaundice

Iodides – enlargement of thyroid or goiter

Thalidomides – Amelia or pocomelia, absence of extremities

Steroids – cleft lip or palate

Lithium – congenital malformation

B.      Alcohol – lowered weight (vasoconstriction on mom), fetal alcohol withdrawal syndrome char by microcephaly

C.      Smoking – low birth rate

D.      Caffeine – low birth rate

E.       Cocaine – low birth rate, abruption placenta

TORCH (Teratogenic) Infections – viruses

CHARACTERISTICS: group of infections caused by organisms that can cross the placenta or ascend through birth canal and adversely affect fetal growth and development. These infections are often characterized by vague, influenza like findings, rashes and lesions, enlarged lymph nodes, and jaundice (hepatic involvement). In some chases the infection may go unnoticed in the pregnant woman yet have devastating effects on the fetus. TORCH: Toxoplasmosis, Other, Rubella, Cytomegalo virus, Herpes simples virus.

T – toxoplasmosis – mom takes care of cats. Feces of cat go to raw vegetables or meat

O – others. Hepa A or infectious heap – oral/ fecal (hand washing)

                       Hepa B, HIV – blood & body fluids

                       Syphilis

R – rubella – German measles – congenital heart disease (1^st month) normal rubella titer 1:10

                <1:10 – less immunity to rubella, after delivery, mom will be given rubella vaccine. Don’t get pregnant for 3 months. Vaccine is teratogenic

C – cytomegalo virus

H – herpes simplex virus