What are teratogens examples?

What are teratogens examples?

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 2 examples of teratogens?

Alcohol and smoking are two common teratogens. Exposure to either of them can lead to developmental anomalies, miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm labor, and a variety of other pregnancy complications.

What is teratogen in pregnancy?

A teratogen is any agent that causes an abnormality following fetal exposure during pregnancy. Teratogens are usually discovered after an increased prevalence of a particular birth defect. For example, in the early 1960’s, a drug known as thalidomide was used to treat morning sickness.

Which of the following is considered to be a teratogenic drug?

Acne medication isotretinoin (Accutane, Retin-A). Alcohol ingested chronically or in binges. Androgens (male hormones). Antibiotics tetracycline (Achromycin), and doxycycline (Vibramycin), and streptomycin.

What are the 4 categories of teratogens?

Additionally, teratogens may also affect pregnancies and cause complications such as preterm labors, spontaneous abortions, or miscarriages. Teratogens are classified into four types: physical agents, metabolic conditions, infection, and finally, drugs and chemicals.

When is alcohol most teratogenic?

Alcohol, at any time during the pregnancy, has the potential to cause birth defects and health problems in the baby, since the central nervous system is sensitive to teratogens the entire nine months of gestation. This is why alcohol consumption should be avoided in its entirety during pregnancy.

What is teratogenic medication?

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.

How do teratogens affect fetal development?

As a baby grows in the womb, teratogens may affect parts of the baby’s body as they are forming. For example, the neural tube closes in the first 3 to 5 weeks of the pregnancy. During this time, teratogens can cause neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

What is teratogenic drug?

A drug is a teratogen if its administration to the pregnant mother, directly or indirectly, causes a structural or functional change in the fetus or child. Organ formation within the fetus occurs in the first 3 months of pregnancy, teratogenic drugs taken in this period therefore tend to cause structural defects.

Which drug produce teratogenic effects?

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 the teratogenic effect of alcohol?

Both alcohol and its primary metabolite, acetaldehyde, are teratogenic. Exposure during pregnancy may lead to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), and this is said to occur in a substantial proportion of infants born to mothers who are chronic, heavy daily drinkers.

Is nicotine a teratogenic?

The potentially teratogenic effect of nicotine was clearly demonstrated in both genders by changes in developmental reflexes, exploratory and novelty seeking behavior, as well as a higher level of anxiety, and changes in individual and group responses in learning and memory.

What are the four categories of teratogens?

Additionally, teratogens may also affect pregnancies and cause complications such as preterm labors, spontaneous abortions, or miscarriages. Teratogens are classified into four types: physical agents, metabolic conditions, infection, and finally, drugs and chemicals.

What are examples of teratogens?

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. Alcohol and cocaine are examples of such substances.

How do teratogens affect prenatal development?

Teratogens are substances that don’t impact prenatal development positively, causing birth defects and other problems. The impact of teratogens depends on its intensity and time during prenatal development when it is present. Teratogens have the highest consequences during the period of the embryo.

What are examples of teratogen?

A teratogen is any substance or agent that interferes with the normal development of a fetus in the womb. Examples include drugs (prescription and nonprescription), pollutants, maternal malnutrition, infectious diseases, etc.