What major birth defects were caused by the Thalidomide Disaster?

• A. Malformation +/- missing limbs
• B. Severe hair loss
• C. Intellectual disability only
• D. Organ failure without limb defects

Answer: (A)

Exposure to thalidomide during early pregnancy disrupted limb development, producing major limb malformations, often resulting in missing or severely shortened limbs. This limb pattern—sometimes referred to as phocomelia—became the defining feature of the disaster. While additional anomalies occurred in some babies (affecting other organs such as the ears, eyes, heart, kidneys, or digestive structures), the most characteristic and recognized birth defects were the limb malformations. Hair loss is not a typical major defect, and intellectual disability was not the primary outcome. So, describing the defects as limb malformations with possible limb loss best reflects the major birth defects caused by thalidomide exposure.