Thalidomide facts for kids
Thalidomide is a type of drug. It was once used to help people sleep. It was also prescribed for other health problems.
In the 1950s and 1960s, doctors often gave thalidomide to pregnant women. It helped them with sleep and morning sickness. However, it was later discovered that the drug could cause serious birth defects. This means it was a teratogen, a substance that can harm a developing baby.
A Difficult Discovery
Before thalidomide was sold, not enough tests were done. Because of this, no one knew it could cause harm. The drug was found to cause birth defects in animals like rats and primates, and also in humans.
Between 1956 and 1962, about 10,000 children were born with physical differences. These problems were directly linked to their mothers taking thalidomide during pregnancy. This sad discovery led to big changes in how drugs are tested.
New Rules for Safety
After the problems with thalidomide, many countries made new laws. In the United States, much stricter tests were required for drugs. This was especially true for medicines that might be used during pregnancy. Other countries also created similar safety rules. For many years after this, thalidomide was not used as a medicine.
Thalidomide Today
Even after its past problems, scientists kept studying thalidomide. They found that it could be helpful for certain skin diseases. These diseases are sometimes linked to leprosy.
Today, researchers are looking into new ways to use the drug. They are studying if thalidomide could help treat cancer. It has already been used successfully to treat a type of blood cancer called Multiple myeloma. Scientists are also exploring its use for other, less common diseases.
Images for kids
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These artificial limbs were made for a child affected by thalidomide in the 1960s.
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The two forms of thalidomide: (S)-(−)-thalidomide (left) and (R)-(+)-thalidomide (right).
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A baby born to a mother who took thalidomide during pregnancy.
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See also
In Spanish: Talidomida para niños
