Definition:
Fetal methyl mercury syndrome is a condition in which the fetus is exposed to methyl mercury, passed on from mother to fetus via the placenta. Methyl mercury is an ‘organometallic cation' and an environmental toxicant categorized as bioaccumulative. Fetal contact to methyl mercury is linked to mild developmental deficits, such as decreased memory function, attention deficit, and lesser IQ.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis of fetal methyl mercury syndrome is based on history, physical examination, and tests.
Treatment:
There's no standard treatment for the syndrome, but prevention in pregnant women is significant. Avoiding exposure to methyl mercury or intake of methlymercury contaminated food while pregnant may prevent the syndrome.
Symptoms and Signs:
Symptoms connected with fetal methyl mercury syndrome include cerebral palsy, psychomotor retardation, small head, vision loss, hearing loss, short stature, and reduced tone of the muscle.
Causes:
The syndrome is mainly caused by methyl mercury exposure of a developing fetus. Studies have shown that ingested methyl mercury is completely and readily absorbed through gastrointestinal tract; it is usually found complexed together with peptides, free cysteine, and proteins that contain amino acid. It's transported freely all through one's body, including the ‘placenta' where a developing fetus absorbs it. This leads to subtle deficiencies of the fetus and symptoms of the syndrome.
:
fetalmethylmercurysyndrome
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