What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

Answer:
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is defined

as a medical condition which occurs in a newly born baby because of the excessive consumption of the alcohol or alcohol products by the mother of the baby during her pregnancy period.

When excessive alcohol is consumed by the mother in her pregnancy period than that alcohol easily crosses the placental barrier and results in the permanent damage to the infant.

The various symptoms which can be observed in a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are mental retardation, birth defects, abnormal facial features, growth problems, central nervous system (CNS) problems, hearing problems, learning problems and behavioral problems, etc.

Diagnosis of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can only be done by an experienced physician through observing the child’s symptoms and observing the history mother’s exposure to alcohol.

Treatment of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: - There is no cure for the disease because of the permanent damage to the central nervous system. However children who are having this disease can be helped by providing medical and dental care like providing eyeglasses, hearing aids, etc according to the prevailing disease symptoms and placing them in special schools for treating their behavioral issues.

Prevention of the Disease: - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can only be prevented by avoiding drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

Research Studies: - The Research Studies conducted at various centers are summarized below:-
(a) Harvard Women's Health Watch advises pregnant women that "Pregnant women having more than one alcoholic drink per day puts the fetus at high risk for various defects and disabilities”.
(b) American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises that "There is no evidence that an occasional drink is harmful. Women who drink excessively throughout pregnancy may have smaller babies with physical and mental handicaps”.
(c) National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which issues health guidelines in the UK, advises that “It is safe for pregnant mothers to consume a small drink of alcohol per day”.
However they all agree on one common point that avoiding alcohol consumption completely during the pregnancy period will be totally safe for the infant.