TERATOGEN

CHAPTER 12

● any factor, chemical or physical, that ● Almost no symptoms

adversely affects the fertilized ovum, ● Serum analysis
embryo, or fetus. ● Sulfonamides - prevent deformities ; ^
● Substance that harm the fetus bilirubin levels in newborn
● Anything expose that can harm the baby ● Pyrimethamine - anti folic acid drug ;
EFFECTS OF TERATOGEN ON A FETUS preventing reducing folic acid levels
● Radiation ● CNS damage
● If a teratogen is introduced before , either ● Hydrocephalus
zygote destroyed and unaffected ● Microcephaly
● 8 weeks is vulnerable to injury ● Intracerebral calcification
● 2 exceptions ● Retinal deformities
● Effects caused by organism or syphilis and RUBELLA
toxoplasmosis ● Mild rash
● Affinity for specific tissue ● Mild systemic illness
● Thalidomide - relieve nausea in pregnancy ; ● Titer greater than 1: 8 immunity to rubella
cause limbs defects ● Less than 1: 8 susceptible viral invasion
● Tetracycline - common antibiotics ; tooth ● Greatly ^ previous reading recent infection
enamel deficiencies & long bone deformities has occurred
● Rubella - virus ; affect organs: eyes, ears, ● Immunization cannot be done during
heart and brain pregnancy
MATERNAL INFECTIONS ● Not get pregnant for 3 months until the
● Sexually transmitted & systemic infections rubella virus is no longer active
● Organism that can cross placenta ; viral, ● After pregnancy assess the titer
bacterial or protozoan ● Immunize if the titer is low
● Preventing & predicting fetal injury from ● Re -infected should avoid all contact w/
injections is complicated because a disease children w/ rashes
may be subclinical and yet may injure the ● Infected mother must be isolated from NB
fetus ● Nurses who will handle an infected mother
● Under the umbrella term TORCH should be immunized.
( Toxoplasmosis , rubella , cytomegalovirus ● Congenital rubella - fetal damage from
and herpes ) maternal infection
● TORSCH ● Deafness
( syphilis and o for other infections ) ● Mental & motor challenges
● TORCH screen used extensively as it still ● Cardiac defects ( PDA )
provide quick way to assess potential risk of ● Restricted intrauterine growth
common teratogenic infections ● Thrombocytopenia
● Detect antibodies against the common ● Dental & facial clefts
infectious teratogens are present CYTOMEGALOVIRUS
( chlamydial or streptococcal B infections )
● Member of herpes
● Used intensively
● Droplet infection
● Screen for HIV
● Antibodies in blood serum
TOXOPLASMOSIS
● No treatment
● Protozoa infection
● Prevent from hand washing before eating
● Spread ; uncooked meat, handling cat litter
● Avoid crowds of young children
Type your initials here | 1
● Infection of a NB during birth from genital
secretion or postpartum from exposure to ZIKA VIRUS
CMV infected breast milk ● Same as dengue virus
● Serious adverse effect except babies of ● Passed from pregnant woman to fetus
very low birth weight ( 1200g ) ● sex without condom
● Neurological damage ( hydrocephalus, ● 3- 12 days
microcephaly, spasticity ) ● No travel to area risk of zika
● Eye damage ( optic atrophy, chorioretinitis) ● Sex precautions
● Deafness ● Breastfeeding
● Chronic liver disease ● Ultrasound
● Skin covered w/ large petechiae ( blueberry ●
muffin lesions )
HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS
● First time a woman contracts a genital
herpes infection, systemic involvement
occurs
● Virus spreads into the bloodstream, crosses
thru placenta posing substantial fetal risk
● Infection takes place in the first trimester ,
severe congenital ; spontaneous
miscarriage
● 2 and 3 trimester ; high incidence of
premature birth
● Type 1 infections before the genital herpes
invasion
● Type 2 recurrence
● If lesion are present at birth ; CS is
recommended
● Intravenous or oral acyclovir ( Zovirax ) can
be administered to woman during
pregnancy
● Primary mechanism for protecting the fetus
SYPHILIS
● Cytotrophoblast layer of chorionic villi is still
intact the spirochete of syphilis, treponema
pallidum cannot cross the placenta and
damage the fetus
● 16 to 18 can cross and damage extensive
damage
● Antibiotic - benzathine penicillin in the first
trimester
● Left untreated beyond 18 gestation ; hearing
impairment , cognitive challenge,
osteochondritis
●