Introduction

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FAS is a condition when a child is born with defects that are permanent, and are due to the consumption of alcohol (wine, liquor or beer) by the mother, of the baby, during pregnancy. When a pregnant woman consumes alcohol, alcohol crosses the placental barrier - which means that the fetus also consumes alcohol. This can stunt fetal growth with respect to height or weight, create distinctive facial features that are abnormal, damage neurons and brain structures, and cause other physical, mental or behavioral problems. The main effect of FAS is permanent damage to the central nervous system especially the brain. This results in under development or malformation of the brain cells or structures which is the cause of a number of cognitive and functional disabilities. The disorder is treated on such a serious footing because it is the leading known cause of mental retardation in the western world.

Symptoms

Symptoms of this syndrome include low birth weight, small head circumference, developmental delay, organ dysfunction, facial abnormalities (small eye openings, flattened cheek bones and indistinct philtrum i.e. an underdeveloped groove between the nose and the upper lip), epilepsy, poor coordination, poor socialization skills, lack of imagination or curiosity, learning difficulties (poor memory, poor language comprehension, poor problem solving skills and inability to understand concepts like time and money) and behavioral problems (hyperactivity, inability to concentrate, social withdrawal, stubbornness, impulsiveness and anxiety).

Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

For a person to be diagnosed as one with FAS the person has to be diagnosed for the following deficiencies: Growth deficiency - prenatal or postnatal height or weight or both at or below the 10th percentile; the presence of all the three FAS facial features; clinically significant structural, neurological or functional impairment; and confirmed or unknown prenatal alcohol exposure.

There is no cure for this disorder because the damage inflicted on the brain and nervous system is permanent. Furthermore since the level of damage and individual response to this damage may vary, there is no blanket treatment for FAS. However persons with FAS can be treated by specialist training and interventions. The most common among these treatments is to understand to which stage of development the person belongs. A normal child develops gradually and is able to develop his brain in such a manner so as to meet the demands of everyday life. However the same is absent in a child with FAS. When the stage is understood appropriate training can be devised.

And since there is no cure, prevention i.e. no drinking of alcohol during pregnancy remains the best option. This strategy is all the more appropriate since, as of now, there is no information regarding what quantity of alcohol can inflict FAS. FAS has raised its ugly head even among the off springs of occasional drinkers.