Thalidomide scandal
Thalidomide Scandal
The Thalidomide Scandal (pronunciation: /θəˈlɪdəmaɪd/), also known as the Thalidomide Tragedy, refers to a global health crisis that occurred in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The scandal involved the use of Thalidomide, a drug initially marketed as a safe, over-the-counter sleep aid and treatment for morning sickness in pregnant women.
Etymology
The term "Thalidomide" is derived from the chemical name of the drug, 2-(2,6-dioxopiperidin-3-yl)-1H-isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione. The scandal is named after the drug due to its catastrophic effects on the unborn children of women who took it during pregnancy.
History
Thalidomide was first marketed in 1957 by the German pharmaceutical company Grünenthal. It was initially hailed as a wonder drug due to its efficacy in treating a variety of ailments, including insomnia, coughs, colds, and morning sickness in pregnant women. However, by the early 1960s, it became apparent that the drug was causing severe birth defects in the children of women who had taken it during pregnancy. This led to the drug being withdrawn from the market and a subsequent scandal that had far-reaching implications for drug regulation and testing.
Impact
The Thalidomide Scandal led to thousands of children being born with severe physical deformities, including Phocomelia, a condition characterized by the absence or underdevelopment of limbs. The scandal also led to significant changes in drug testing and regulation, with many countries introducing stricter controls to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring in the future.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Thalidomide scandal
- Wikipedia's article - Thalidomide scandal
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski