Ability of the drug of cause foetal abnormality when administered during pregnancy is known as:
A. Therapeutic effect
B. Idiosyncratic reaction
C. Toxic effect
D. Teratogenic effect
Correct Answer: D. Teratogenic effect
Explanation
The ability of a drug to cause fetal abnormalities when administered during pregnancy is known as teratogenic effect (or teratogenicity).
Explanation:
- Teratogenic effect refers to the capacity of a drug, chemical, infection, or physical agent to interfere with normal fetal development.
- It can lead to congenital malformations, structural defects, functional abnormalities, or growth retardation in the fetus.
- The risk is highest when exposure occurs during the first trimester, especially during organ formation (organogenesis).
Examples of teratogenic drugs:
- Thalidomide
- Isotretinoin
- Valproic acid
- Warfarin
✔ Correct answer: Teratogenic effect
Other Options Details
Here are the descriptions of each option in simple medical terms:
A. Therapeutic effect
This is the desired and beneficial effect of a drug when given in the correct dose. It is the reason the medicine is prescribed.
Example: Paracetamol reducing fever or pain.
B. Idiosyncratic reaction
This is an unusual, unpredictable reaction to a drug that occurs in a small number of individuals. It is not related to the dose and is often due to genetic differences.
Example: A person developing severe anemia after taking a normal dose of a drug.
C. Toxic effect
This refers to the harmful effects produced when a drug is taken in excessive doses, for a prolonged period, or when the body cannot eliminate it properly.
Example: Liver damage caused by overdose of paracetamol.
D. Teratogenic effect
This is the effect of a drug that causes abnormal development or congenital defects in a fetus when taken during pregnancy.
Example: Thalidomide causing limb deformities in newborns.
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Writer: Vandita Singh, Lucknow (GS India Nursing Group