| Topics Index |
| TOPIC : |
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome |
| DISCUSSION : |
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the most severe condition of a range of disorders and birth defects associated with drinking during pregnancy. According to the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (2006), fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) is an umbrella term that describes a range of effects that can occur to the unborn child of a mother who consumed alcohol during pregnancy. These effects include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities. The three terms that are used to describe FASD are fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which is the most common problem resulting in mental retardation and birth defects, alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND), and alcohol- related birth defects (ARBD). Children with ARND have functional or mental problems linked to exposure to alcohol during pregnancy. These children can have central nervous system defects and behavior problems or cognitive deficits such as speech delays or hyperactivity, but generally lack the typical diagnostic features of FAS. Children with ARBD have damage to the heart, kidneys, bones, muscles and/or hearing (NCBDDD, 2006; SAMHSA, 2005). The characteristics associated with FAS include distinct facial features (smooth groove between the nose and upper lip, thin upper lip, and small eye openings), prenatal and postnatal growth deficiencies, and central nervous system deficits with mental retardation being the most significant consequence. FAS has consequences that last throughout childhood and into adult life. Neurological problems in FAS children include attention-deficit disorder, diminished fine motor skills, and poor speech. These children and adults lack inhibition and have poor judgment skills. Mental health conditions include conduct disorders, oppositional defiant disorders, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, sleep disorders, and depression (CDC, 2005, Lowdermilk & Perry, 2007). Additional factors that contribute to the severity of the syndrome include poor nutrition, smoking, drug abuse, inadequate prenatal care, genetic predisposition, and low socioeconomic status (Herfindal & Gourley, 1996). The quantity of alcohol required to produce the effects is unclear, but women who consume heavy amounts of alcohol have twice the risk of having infants with congenital abnormalities as those who drink moderate amounts. Newborns may also suffer alcohol withdrawal when maternal ingestion occurs near the time of birth. These signs and symptoms include jitteriness, irritability, increased tone and reflexes, and seizures (Lowdermilk & Perry, 2007). |
| RESOURCES : |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2009, May 22). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Alcohol use among pregnant and nonpregnant women of childbearing age- United States, 1991-2005. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5819a4htm?s_cid=mm5819a4_e Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2005, October 28). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Guidelines for identifying and referring persons with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/r5411a1.htm Department of Health and Human Services. (2006, May 2). Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/FAS/fasask.htm Lowdermilk, D., & Perry, S. (2007). Maternity and women's health care (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier. National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (2006, May 2). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Retrieved from http://cdc.gov/ncbddd/fas/fasask.htm Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA) (2005, March). Understanding fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Getting a diagnosis. Retrieved from the US Department of Health and Human Services |
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