Conover E
University of Nebraska School of Medicine, Omaha 68198-5440.
J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 1994 Jul-Aug;23(6):524-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1552-6909.1994.tb01916.x.
A teratogen is any environmental agent that permanently harms the developing fetus. Health-care providers who care for pregnant women are consulted regarding a variety of agents, including prescribed or over-the-counter medications, vaccinations, diseases or infections, chemical agents in the work place or at home, radiation, and alcohol, tobacco, and "street drugs." Patients also may have questions about the impact of paternal exposures on subsequent offspring and the safety of maternal use of medications while breastfeeding. Thus, it is important for the caregivers to be knowledgeable concerning basic principles of teratogenesis, such as the effects of timing, dosage, and fetal susceptibility, and the impact of specific agents on the fetus or pregnancy. Clinicians should be cognizant of the possibilities for prenatal diagnosis of fetal damage, strategies to decrease risk, and available resources.
致畸物是指任何会对发育中的胎儿造成永久性伤害的环境因素。医护人员会就各种因素向照顾孕妇的人提供咨询，这些因素包括处方药或非处方药、疫苗接种、疾病或感染、工作场所或家中的化学制剂、辐射以及酒精、烟草和“街头毒品”。患者也可能会询问父亲接触某些物质对后代的影响以及母亲在母乳喂养期间用药的安全性。因此，护理人员了解致畸学的基本原则很重要，比如时间、剂量和胎儿易感性的影响，以及特定因素对胎儿或妊娠的影响。临床医生应该认识到胎儿损伤的产前诊断可能性、降低风险的策略以及可用资源。
