Alcohol Fetal Syndrome|Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.

What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a condition  which develops in a fetus when the mother has been drinking alcohol during her pregnancy. It involves certain birth defects in the fetus which are irreversible. Alcohol is one of the leading teratrogens – meaning one of the leading substances that can cause prenatal defects in a new born.

How much alcohol or at how much frequency alcohol is consumed to cause FAS is something that cannot be confirmed. Safe limits cannot be ascertained. However, The Surgeon General of the United States and the British Health Department advocate abstinence from alcohol by the mother during pregnancy.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Statistics.

• In the U.S., about 40,000 children are born with foetal alcohol syndrome.
• Fetal alcohol syndrome is the leading cause of mental retardation in the United States.
• About 30% of women in the U.S. drink alcohol during pregnancy.
• In the U.S. and Europe, one out of every 100 babies born develop this disorder.
• The life time cost of one individual with FAS is about $ 2 million.
• Estimates say that the cost of FAS to the United States is about $ 4 billion annually.

Causes of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

The cause of fetal alcohol syndrome is drinking of alcohol during pregnancy. Drinking alcohol by the pregnant mother may not always cause FAS. But certain parameters do increase the risks. Drinking alcohol in the first trimester of pregnancy poses the maximum risk and so does binge drinking during the other months. Risk of fetal alcohol syndrome increases with the higher quantity of alcohol consumed. Alcohol from the mother’s blood crosses into the fetus through the placenta and can produce adverse effects on the development of the fetus.

Symptoms  of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome|Effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Fetal alcohol syndrome characteristics are typical. The new born which has developed alcohol fetal syndrome may have the following signs and symptoms.

• Growth in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. In children with fetal alcohol syndrome, growth rate is slow. Height and weight are below the required parameters as per age. This could be the result of poor sucking reflex.
• Poor muscle tone and coordination is seen in children with fetal alcohol syndrome.
• Heart defects in fetal alcohol syndrome. Congenital heart defects such as ventricular septal defect or atrial septal defect are seen in children with fetal alcohol syndrome. {hole in the partition that divides the left part of the heart from the right).
• Physical growth is slow during prenatal and post birth phase.
• Fetal alcohol syndrome mental retardation. Mental growth and development of special senses is delayed in fetal alcohol syndrome.
• Poor vision and hearing.
• Fetal alcohol facial features.

1. Narrow and small eyes.
2. Smaller brain size.
3. Smaller head .
4. Thin upper lip.
5. Flat philtrum. Philtrum is the groove between the nose and the upper lip.

Images and Photos of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Alcohol foetal syndrome is diagnosed with help of three ways:

• From the history of alcohol consumption by the mother during pregnancy.
• By assessing the physical development of the baby.
• By comparing the facial features.
• By assessing mental growth a little later in life as the baby grows. Whether milestones such as uttering a word or taking to crawling or walking occur at normal ages.

Treatment of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

As mentioned above, defects caused by alcohol fetal syndrome are irreversible. There is no treatment or medication for this congenital defect. Only special care and special schools are advised. Parental counseling is also advocated.

Adults with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Fetal alcohol syndrome adulthood is characterized by unpredictable behavior, which can often get them into trouble. As mentioned above, the defects developed in fetal alcohol syndrome are irreversible and these adults have these lingering defects due to which they cannot live independently. They have poor judgment and can hardly develop any skills. They are impulsive in nature and their actions reflect accordingly. They tend to have a practice of having sex with may partners without any commitment(sexual promiscuity). They need to be put in residential group homes or farms.

Photo of adult with fetal alcohol syndrome.

They have a criminal behavior and can get into problems with the police. They need help managing their money and many of them do get social security assistance.

Adults with fetal alcohol syndrome are at a greater risk of alcohol, tobacco and drug dependence.

Our other related posts on alcohol.

1) What is Alcohol.2) Alcohol Statistics.3) Alcohol units.4) Alcoholic and Alcoholism.5) Effects of alcohol.6) Alcohol Poisoning.7) Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal.9) Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.10) Treatment for Alcohol.11)Alcoholism Rehab.

Related posts:

1. Alcohol Units|Drinking Alcohol Limits.
2. Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal|Alcohol Detox.
3. Treatment for Alcohol|Detoxing Alcohol.
4. Effects of Alcohol.
5. Alcohol.
6. Alcoholic|Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Causes and Symptoms.
7. Alcohol Poisoning Causes, Symptoms, Effects and Treatment.
8. Alcohol Statistics.