Which statement about tetracycline safety in pregnancy and children is accurate?

Which statement about tetracycline safety in pregnancy and children is accurate?

• A. They are safe during pregnancy and in children
• B. They are not safe during pregnancy and in children
• C. They are only unsafe in older adults
• D. They are only unsafe during lactation

Answer: (B)

Tetracyclines can cross the placenta and are excreted in breast milk, so they can affect a developing fetus or a nursing infant. The key issue is their affinity for calcium, which leads them to bind to calcium in developing teeth and bones. In the teeth this causes permanent discoloration and enamel hypoplasia, and in the growing bones they can interfere with proper mineralization. Because tooth development and bone growth occur during pregnancy and in young children (typically under eight years old), tetracyclines are generally avoided in these groups. That’s why the statement that they are not safe during pregnancy and in children is the most accurate. (Lactation is also a concern for the same reason, since the drug can pass into breast milk.)

Tetracyclines can cross the placenta and are excreted in breast milk, so they can affect a developing fetus or a nursing infant. The key issue is their affinity for calcium, which leads them to bind to calcium in developing teeth and bones. In the teeth this causes permanent discoloration and enamel hypoplasia, and in the growing bones they can interfere with proper mineralization. Because tooth development and bone growth occur during pregnancy and in young children (typically under eight years old), tetracyclines are generally avoided in these groups. That’s why the statement that they are not safe during pregnancy and in children is the most accurate. (Lactation is also a concern for the same reason, since the drug can pass into breast milk.)