Reproductive Health

Question

Women who consumed the drug thalidomide for relief from vomiting during early months of pregnancy gave birth to children with

  • no spleen

  • hare-lip

  • extra fingers and toes

  • underdeveloped limbs.

Answer

D.

underdeveloped limbs.

Even a single dose of thalidomide can cause severe birth defects or fetal death, thalomid (a form of thalidomide) must not be used during pregnancy. Pregnancy must be ruled out 24 hours before starting therapy with thalidomide. Women must be monitored for pregnancy while using thalomid because it can give rise to underdeveloped limbs in fetus.

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