Teratogens are diseases or medical problems that can harm fetal growth, causing birth defects and mental issues during pregnancy. They can be caused by illnesses, infections, alcohol, prescription or street drugs, and can affect different organs and functions depending on when they occur during pregnancy.
A teratogen refers to any number of diseases and medical problems that can impair the normal growth of a fetus. They can cause birth defects and mental problems and occur during pregnancy. child. Shortly after a woman becomes pregnant, the fetus becomes susceptible to any medical problems the mother may be experiencing. For example, when a bacterial infection is present, it can travel through the bloodstream and reach the fetus. The severity of a teratogen depends on when it occurs during pregnancy.
Pregnancy is typically divided into trimesters, during which the fetus undergoes changes as it grows. Organs are developing and bodily functions are also starting to occur. During this time, if a specific teratogen is introduced, it can affect growth patterns or cause deformities. For example, when the spinal cord is growing, a teratogen can cause an abnormality that results in the inability to walk. If a teratogen attacks a mother during brain formation, learning disabilities and delay can also occur.
There are various things that can be considered teratogenic. An illness or infection can severely affect the growth of the fetus, and some can even cause permanent damage. The herpes simplex virus can be spread to the fetus and can cause skin rashes and possible blindness. If the infection spreads to the brain, it can also cause learning disabilities. Chicken pox and shingles are other diseases that can be passed on to a fetus, where they can cause limbs to develop at different lengths, an unusually small head, or even miscarriage.
Alcohol is a teratogen which unfortunately is self induced. When an expectant mother consumes too much alcohol, a variety of health problems can occur. Organ growth may be impaired, and moderate to severe learning disabilities may also occur. The worst-case scenario for consuming too much alcohol during pregnancy is fetal alcohol syndrome. With this syndrome, facial features also change, and you will most likely also see learning and behavioral problems.
Some prescription drugs, as well as street drugs, are good examples of teratogens, which can be responsible for developmental problems. Sometimes these types of medications may have been taken by the expectant mother even before she knew she was pregnant. Medications that help with epilepsy, tranquilizers, and blood pressure medications can cause birth defects or abnormalities. Illegal drugs such as amphetamines or cocaine can damage the developing central nervous system.
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