What are 5 types of teratogens?

Common teratogens include some medications, recreational drugs, tobacco products, chemicals, alcohol, certain infections, and in some cases, uncontrolled health problems in the birthing parent.

What is teratogenic drug classification?

If a drug is classified as being teratogenic, it means that medication has the potential to cause developmental malformations or birth defects to a fetus when taken by a pregnant woman.

What are the 7 teratogens?

Teratogenic agents include infectious agents (rubella, cytomegalovirus, varicella, herpes simplex, toxoplasma, syphilis, etc.); physical agents (ionizing agents, hyperthermia); maternal health factors (diabetes, maternal PKU); environmental chemicals (organic mercury compounds, polychlorinated biphenyl or PCB, …

What is the most common teratogen?

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.

How many teratogens are there?

Teratogens are classified into four types: physical agents, metabolic conditions, infection, and finally, drugs and chemicals.

What is the meaning of teratogenic?

Teratogenic: Able to disturb the growth and development of an embryo or fetus. See also: Teratogen and Teratogenic drugs.

What is a teratogenic effect?

Teratogens are drugs, chemicals, or even infections that can cause abnormal fetal development. There are billions of potential teratogens, but only a few agents are proven to have teratogenic effects. These effects can result in a baby being born with a birth defect.

What products contain teratogens?

Teratogens include:
  • Some medicines.
  • Street drugs.
  • Alcohol.
  • Tobacco.
  • Toxic chemicals.
  • Some viruses and bacteria.
  • Certain health conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes.

What are non teratogenic drugs?

A non-teratogenic agent is one which does not cause birth defects.

What are the causes of teratogenesis?

Causes of teratogenesis can broadly be classified as:
  • Toxic substances, such as, for humans, drugs in pregnancy and environmental toxins in pregnancy. Potassium iodide is a possible teratogen. …
  • Vertically transmitted infection.
  • Lack of nutrients. …
  • Physical restraint. …
  • Genetic disorders.
  • Alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Why is vitamin A teratogenic?

The mechanism of action by which vitamin A exerts teratogenicity is attributed to the influence of high concentrations of certain retinoic acid metabolites (such as trans-retinoic acid and 13-cis-retinoic acid) on the function of genes during critical periods of organogenesis and embryogenesis [27,28].

How can you prevent teratogens?

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.

Why do teratogens cause birth defects?

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.

Which vitamin is responsible for teratogenesis?

High dietary intake of preformed vitamin A appears to be teratogenic. Among the babies born to women who took more than 10,000 IU of preformed vitamin A per day in the form of supplements, we estimate that about 1 infant in 57 had a malformation attributable to the supplement.

What are the 4 main causes of birth defects?

What causes birth defects?
  • Genetic problems. One or more genes might have a change or mutation that results in them not working properly, such as in Fragile X syndrome. …
  • Chromosomal problems. …
  • Infections. …
  • Exposure to medications, chemicals, or other agents during pregnancy.

Is folic acid a teratogen?

Folate deficiency has a well-established teratogenic effect, leading to an increasing risk of neural tube defects. This paper highlights the most recent medical literature about folate deficiency, be it maternal or paternal.

Is alcohol a teratogen?

Alcohol is a known toxicant, causing cell death in a fetus, and a teratogen, altering cell cycle and function in a developing fetal brain, with PAE having immediate and persisting effects on an individual with FASDs.