FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a condition that occurs in a child whose mother consumed alcohol during pregnancy.
- There is no known safe amount or safe time for alcohol to be consumed during pregnancy.
- While drinking small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy does not cause facial abnormalities, it may cause behavioral issues.
- The risk of problems associated with the condition, therefore, depends on the amount of alcohol consumed, the frequency of consumption, as well as when during the pregnancy the alcohol is consumed.
- Defects caused by fetal alcohol syndrome are not reversible. For this reason, medical authorities recommend no alcohol during pregnancy or while trying to become pregnant.
- A fetal alcohol syndrome is a severe form of a condition referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is an umbrella term for a range of disorders in a child that results from alcohol exposure during the mother’s pregnancy.
- Other forms of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS), Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND), Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE), and Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD).
- Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most severe end of FASDs and it describes people with the greatest alcohol effect.
CAUSES
The condition is caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy. When you are pregnant and drink alcohol, the alcohol enters your bloodstream, and like other food and drink consumed by the mother, the toxin crosses the placenta and affects the baby.
Because a fetus metabolizes alcohol slower than an adult, there is a higher blood alcohol content in the developing baby, so the baby remains intoxicated for much longer.
This early exposure to alcohol before birth can harm the development of organs and tissues leading to permanent brain damage in the baby.
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of the condition may include physical defects, cognitive disabilities, and problems coping with daily life.
Physical defects may include:
- Small head
- Heart defects, bone and kidney problems
- Distinctive facial features, including small and wideset eyes, a short and upturned nose, an exceptionally thin upper lips, or smooth skin between the nose and the upper lip
- Vision difficulties
- Hearing problems
- Slow physical growth, low birth weight, small stature, or low weight during childhood
- Joint, limbs and fingers deformities
Cognitive disabilities may include
- Poor memory
- Poor judgment skills
- Trouble processing information
- Poor balance or coordination
- Learning disorders
- Delayed mental development as compared to peers
- Hyperactivity
- Difficulty with reasoning and problem-solving
- Rapid mood swings
- Trouble identify consequences of actions
Social and behavioral issues may include
- Problems staying on task
- Difficulty in school
- Poor social skills
- Trouble switching from one task to another or adapting to change
- Trouble getting along with others
- Lack of focus
- Poor concept of time
- Trouble making friends
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Diagnosing the condition requires expertise and a thorough assessment. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome.
To make the diagnosis, the doctor will discuss drinking during pregnancy, and assess physical appearance and distinguishing features in your child’s initial week, months and year of life.
The doctor will also monitor the child’s physical and brain growth and development and assess for social and behavioral problems.
TREATMENT
No cure exists for the condition. The physical deformities and mental disabilities persist for a lifetime.
However, early interventions may help reduce some of the effects and can significantly improve an affected child’s development and life. This may include:
- Early intervention to help with talking and walking
- Medications and other medical therapies
- Behavioral training
- Educational interventions
- Parent training
- Social skills training