A birth defect is an abnormality present at birth that affects the body structure or functions and may threaten a baby’s health. Birth defects caused by environmental factors, inherited factors or both. The idea that birth defects are primarily due to genetic damage are changed by two major discoveries: Maternal rubella causes birth defects (1941) and Thalidomide causes birth defects (1960). It is now known that about 20 drugs or groups of drugs can cause human birth defects. They are responsible for about 1% of all human birth defects. By far the most important of these drugs are the anticonvulsants, anticancer agents, androgenic hormones, antithyroid drugs, aminoglycoside antibiotics, retinoic acids, ACE inhibitors, tetracyclines, coumarin anticoagulants etc.
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