BSN 2-B B3 September 6, 2023

Acpal, Lance D.
Agtagma, Joan Karyll D.
Alba, Al-laine E.
Balasuit, Ethan B.
Baltazar, Yoela Grace P.
Bumanghat, Marian Vicel W.
Caccam, Stefanie F.
Guyong, Kris T.
Jimenez, Jermaine Olive Q.
Maza, Ildran Jarem D.
Peña, Neil Bernard E.
Seguma, Jairus Leigh P.

TERATOGENS: INFECTIOUS AGENTS

TERATOGENIC DESCRIPTION SOURCE OF THE EFFECTS ON EFFECTS ON THE PREVENTION

INFECTIOUS FOR EACH TERATOGEN MOTHER FETUS AND/OR
AGENTS TERATOGEN TREATMENT

Malaria Malaria is a serious Causative Agent: The clinical effects Fetal loss, Prevention:
and sometimes Plasmodium of malaria on premature delivery, Prophylaxis
fatal disease (PROTOZOA) pregnant women intrauterine growth treatment two
caused by a vary from no retardation, delivery weeks before
parasite that Transmitted by: symptoms to of low birth-weight traveling to areas
commonly infects a infected females severe anemia and (less than 2,500 g affected by malaria.
certain type of Anopheles death. Women or 5.5 pounds), and
mosquito which mosquito living in areas of worse, risk factor Treatment:
feeds on humans. low malaria for death. Chloroquine
transmission who (Aralen) in the first
have a lower trimester
degree of acquired Mefloquine
immunity are more (Lariam) in the
 likely to experience second and third
complications such trimester
as renal failure,
pulmonary edema,
and cerebral
malaria.

Toxoplasmosis Toxoplasmosis is Causative Agent: Miscarriage, Damage to the Prevention:

an infection caused Toxoplasma gondii preterm birth or liver, brain, spleen, Make sure the
by a single-celled (PROTOZOA) stillbirth. and eyes, jaundice, current cat is
parasite called convulsions, healthy and the
Toxoplasma gondii. Contact with This infection may hydrocephalus surrounding is
This can be uncooked meat be highly (fluid on the brain), clean.
acquired from Handling cat stool transmitted to the swollen lymph
eating undercooked in soil or cat litter fetus within six nodes, Do not take in a
meat or having months of macrocephaly new cat during
contact with cat pregnancy. (large head size) or pregnancy.
feces or a litter box. microcephaly (small
head size), skin Avoid being in
rash, or low contact with
birthweight uncooked meat.

Note: Most babies Avoid changing the

born with cat’s litter box.
toxoplasmosis have
no symptoms. Do not go to areas
where cats
defecate.

Proper
handwashing.

Rubella (German Rubella is a Causative Agent: Rubella can cause When a pregnant Prevention:
Measles) contagious disease Rubella virus joint pain, which woman contracts Vaccination three
caused by a virus. can be rubella during the months before
 Most people who Mode of uncomfortable for first trimester, it can pregnancy.
get rubella usually Transmission: pregnant women. In lead to congenital
have a mild illness, Direct contact with rare cases, rubella rubella syndrome Avoid contact with
with symptoms that an infected person can lead to more (CRS) in the children with rashes
can include a with cough through severe developing fetus. during pregnancy.
low-grade fever, the mucus from complications in The following
sore throat, and a nose and throat. pregnant women, defects can
rash that starts on such as manifest in the
the face and encephalitis fetus:
spreads to the rest (inflammation of the Hearing impairment
of the body. brain) or Cognitive and
thrombocytopenia motor challenges
(a reduction in Cataracts
blood platelets). Cardiac defects
Rubella infection (most commonly
during pregnancy patent ductus
also increases the arteriosus and
risk of miscarriage, pulmonary
particularly within stenosis)
the first 20 weeks, Restricted
and can contribute intrauterine growth
to premature birth, (small for
which carries health gestational age)
challenges for the Thrombocytopenic
newborn. In severe purpura
cases, rubella can Dental and facial
lead to stillbirth. clefts
Congenital heart
disease
Congenital rubella
syndrome
Blindness and
deafness

Herpes Simplex Herpes simplex Causative Agent: Spontaneous In the first trimester: Prevention:
Virus (Genital virus (HSV), known HSV1 & HSV2 miscarriage Severe congenital Safe sex
Herpes Infection) as herpes, is a Mode of anomalies
common infection Transmission: Intrauterine viral Treatment:
that can cause Intimate contact transmission is Acyclovir (Zovirax)
painful blisters or (HSV-2: highest during the In the second and Valacyclovir
ulcers. It primarily genital-to-genital first 20 weeks of third trimester: (Valtrex)
spreads by contact, HSV-1: gestation leading to High incidence of
skin-to-skin contact. oral sex) abortion, stillbirth, premature birth Prophylaxis
It is treatable but and congenital Intrauterine growth treatment at 36
not curable. abnormalities. restriction weeks
Neurologic disease

Cytomegalovirus CMV is a common Causative Agent: Mononucleosis or Severe neurologic Prevention:

virus belonging to Human hepatitis. Pregnant challenges Wash hands
the herpesvirus cytomegalovirus, a women with weak (hydrocephalus, thoroughly before
family. It can cause member of the HSV immune system microcephaly, or eating and avoid
mild symptoms family can have serious spasticity), eye crowds of young
similar to the flu in symptoms affecting damage (optic children at daycare
healthy individuals Mode of the eyes, lungs, atrophy or or nursery school
but can be more Transmission: body liver, esophagus, chorioretinitis), settings to prevent
serious for people fluids - droplets via stomach and hearing impairment, exposure.
with weakened sneezing, sending intestines. or chorionic liver
immune systems or droplets into the air disease, skin Treatment: No
pregnant women, that is acquired by covered with treatment
as it can lead to the person and/or petechiae.
birth defects or direct contact with
other contaminated urine.
complications.

Syphilis It is a sexually Causative Agent: It can increase the The newborn with Prevention: practice
transmitted Treponema risk of early congenital syphilis safe sex (using
infection which has pallidum miscarriage (loss of may have contraceptives like
a great concern for (BACTERIUM) pregnancy before congenital condoms and pills)
the maternal-fetal 20 weeks) or anomalies, bone
population. Mode of stillbirth (loss of damage, severe Treatment:
Transmission: pregnancy after 20 anemia, enlarged Benzathine
When an infant is Having multiple weeks). liver and spleen, penicillin G can
 born to a woman partners, jaundice, nerve cure early stage of
with syphilis, it may transactional sex, During pregnancy, problems causing syphilis
remain positive for late entry to the mother may be blindness and
up to 3 months prenatal care/ no at a higher risk of deafness and a
even though the prenatal care developing characteristic
disease was secondary syphilis, syphilitic rash
treated during which can lead to
pregnancy. more severe
symptoms and
further
complications.

Other viral diseases that may be teratogenic:

Rubeola (Measles) Measles, also Causative Agent: Alters a mother's Although the Prevention:
known as rubeola, Measles Virus immune response measles virus is not MMR Vaccine
is a highly leading to a risk for proven to be
contagious viral Transmission: miscarriage, teratogenic, it alters
infection. It spreads contact with premature labor the mother’s Treatment: Avoid
through respiratory infected person and low birth weight immune response. touching eyes,
droplets and through droplets of of baby. This may result in a mouth and nose
causes symptoms fluids from nose spontaneous
such as fever, and mouth abortion or Practice hand
cough, runny nose, premature hygiene
rash, and can lead expulsion of the
to complications fetus.
like pneumonia,
encephalitis, or
death. Measles can
be prevented by
vaccination.

Coxsackievirus Coxsackieviruses Causative Agent: If a pregnant Various studies Prevention: Wash

are part of the Coxsackie Virus woman contracts a suggest that hands often, wear a
 enterovirus family severe form of coxsackievirus may facemask, and
of viruses (which Direct contact with coxsackievirus, it be linked to disinfect
also includes contaminated could potentially pathological surfaces/objects
polioviruses and objects/surfaces lead to changes in
hepatitis A virus) and/or via droplets complications such congenital heart Treatment: No
that can live in the of fluid sprayed into as myocarditis defects and/or specific treatment
human digestive the air by an (inflammation of the miscarriages in for the disease but
tract. infected person. heart muscle) or early pregnancy. treatments for the
meningitis signs and
(inflammation of the symptoms can be
membranes given to relief
surrounding the
brain and spinal
cord).

Parotitis (Mumps) Mumps virus is a Causative Agent: Potential effects Being infected with Prevention: MMR
part of the family of Paramyxovirus include an mumps in the first vaccine
viruses that can increased risk of trimester of
spread from person miscarriage, pregnancy may
to person by premature birth, or raise the risk of
coughing and complications miscarriage.
sneezing. during pregnancy,
such as
It is a virus capable preeclampsia or
of infecting the fetal death. It is
placenta and fetus important for
and has been pregnant women to
associated with an ensure they are
increased rate of immune to mumps
spontaneous through vaccination
abortion. or prior infection.

Varicella Varicella is an Causative Agent: It may lead to Fetus can develop Prevention:
(Chickenpox) acute infectious varicella-zoster complications such skin scarring, eye, Varicella vaccine
disease. It is virus (VZV) as pneumonia, brain, and
caused by encephalitis, or gastrointestinal Washing of hands
 varicella-zoster Transmission: hepatitis. abnormalities, frequently
virus, which is a Direct contact of Additionally, if a hypoplasia of an
DNA virus that is a blisters, saliva or pregnant woman extremity Avoid touching or
member of the mucus of an contracts microcephaly, low scratching the rash
herpesvirus group. infected person. chickenpox near birth weight.
After the primary the time of delivery, Avoid contact with
infection, VZV stays there is a risk of infected person
in the body as a transmitting the
latent infection. virus to the
newborn, which can
cause severe
illness. Vaccination
before pregnancy
or immediate
treatment after
exposure is
recommended to
prevent or reduce
the severity of
chickenpox during
pregnancy.

Poliomyelitis Polio, or Causative Agent: Pregnant women There was no Prevention: Polio
poliomyelitis, is a Poliovirus who contract polio evidence of an vaccine
disabling and may face a higher increase in
life-threatening Transmission; risk of congenital defects Practice hand
disease caused by Ingestion of fecally complications due or in prematurity. hygiene
the poliovirus. The contaminated food to the added stress However, fetal
virus spreads from and water on their bodies. deaths were
person to person Polio can lead to observed 35 - 46%
and can infect a muscle weakness of pregnancies
person's spinal and respiratory complicated with
cord, causing problems, which poliomyelitis in the
paralysis. can be particularly first trimester of
challenging during gestation.
pregnancy.
Influenza A viral respiratory Causative Agent: Having a higher risk - Low birth weight Prevention: Avoid
illness caused by Orthomyxovirus of complications - neural tube touching your eyes,
influenza viruses. It like preterm labor defects nose or mouth
is characterized by Transmission: and preterm birth. - hydrocephalus
symptoms such as Droplet - congenital heart Annual flu
fever, cough, sore transmission defects vaccination is
throat, body aches, - digestive system recommended as a
fatigue, and can defects preventive
lead to severe - limb reduction measure.
illness or even effects
death, especially in Practice hand
high-risk groups. hygiene

Avoid close contact

with infected
person

Viral hepatitis Viral hepatitis is an Causative Agent: Hepa A- Increased Viral hepatitis is not Hepatitis vaccine
infection that Hepatitis A, B, C, E in premature considered as a
causes liver uterine contraction, teratogen, although
Use condoms
inflammation and placental abruption, it is associated with
during sex.
damage. premature rupture numerous
of membranes gestational
Inflammation is complications, Don't share needles
swelling that occurs Hepa B- the albeit some of them to take drugs.
when tissues of the infection of mother being rare. The
body become will only pass to the complications are Practice good
injured or infected. baby the following: personal hygiene
Moreover, such as thorough
inflammation can Hepa C- increased HEPA A hand-washing with
damage organs. risk of adverse fetal - premature soap and water.
outcomes like fetal contractions,
growth restriction placental
and low birth weight separation,
premature rupture
Hepa E- Increased of membranes
 risk for acute liver
failure, fetal loss HEPA B
and mortality - preterm birth, fetal
growth restriction

HEPA C
- fetal growth
restriction, fetal
growth restriction,
brachial plexus
injury, fetal distress,
cephalohematoma

HEPA E
- preterm and low
birth weights

References:
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https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/immunization-for-women

Asafo-Agyei, K. O. (2023). Pregnancy and viral hepatitis. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556026/

Bauserman, M., Conroy, A. L., North, K., Patterson, J., Bose, C., & Meshnick, S. (2019). An overview of malaria in pregnancy.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Congenital CMV Infection. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/cmv/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.(2021). What is Polio?.

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20of%20the%20body
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease. Retrieved from
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https://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/stdfact-syphilis-detailed.htm

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