A patient of yours has a history of multiple substance abuses. She is now pregnant again and tells you that she has a little boy that is 2 years old who is slow in school and has difficulty concentrating. Which of the following substances has been associated with behavioral and developmental abnormalities in children?
A. TobaccoB. Cocaine
C. Caffeine
D. Marijuana
The answer is a. Moderate
consumption of coffee has not been associated with any fetal risks. Consumption
of more than five cups of coffee a day has been shown to be associated with a
slightly increased risk of spontaneous abortion in some studies. Cocaine use
has been associated with an increased incidence of placental abruption and a
constellation of congenital anomalies (skull defects, disruptions in urinary
tract development, limb defects, and cardiac anomalies). Marijuana has not been
associated with any adverse fetal effects. Tobacco use has been associated
with a number of adverse pregnancy outcomes including spontaneous abortion,
preterm labor, growth restriction, placental abruption, placenta previa, and
attention deficit disorder and behavior and learning problems.
