Medicine

What can cause birth defects?

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Defects may be genetic in origin, or may be the result of infections, such as rubella and sexually transmitted diseases . Other teratogenic (malformation-causing) agents include drugs or hormones taken by the mother (e.g., thalidomide and DES ) and maternal illnesses (e.g., diabetes ). The mother's nutrition, drinking (see fetal alcohol syndrome ), smoking , and drug abuse, as well as exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation, can also affect the developing fetus.

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Get more facts and information about birth defects . Or, view the full encyclopedia entry from The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition.

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