Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS): symptoms, causes and treatment

It is one of the most common diseases in babies born in wealthy countries.

A healthy lifestyle of the mother throughout pregnancy is essential to ensure the proper development of the fetus and a good quality of the baby's health. Therefore, certain toxic habits such as alcohol and tobacco can cause serious complications in the growth of the baby.

In the case of alcoholic habits or behaviors, the consumption of this type of beverages can have serious consequences, such as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). such as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).. Throughout this article, we will discuss the characteristics and symptoms of this syndrome, as well as its diagnosis and possible treatment.

What is fetal alcohol syndrome?

The syndrome of fetal alcohol syndrome is a condition that is categorized as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).. This spectrum refers to a group of diseases or conditions that may appear in those cases in which the mother consumed certain amounts of alcohol during pregnancy, causing a series of physical and mental consequences in the baby.

These disorders are characterized by presenting a series of physical, mental, behavioral and cognitive abnormalities in those babies who suffer from them, since the alcohol consumed by the mother during pregnancy can cause a series of physical and mental consequences in the baby.The alcohol consumed by the mother is transferred to the child's bloodstream.

In the specific case of fetal alcohol syndrome, this is considered to be the most serious or harmful condition within the whole spectrum of alterations or anomalies caused by exposure to alcohol during the fetal development stage, without taking into account fetal death due to alcoholism.

Babies diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome often present with a number of pathological physical features a number of pathological physical features such as deformed facial features, growth disturbances, or problems in central nervous system development.growth disturbances or problems in the development of the central nervous system.

These irregularities in the fetal growth process have as their main psychological consequence the appearance of learning difficulties and alterations in the processes of memory, communication capacity, attention, as well as sensory difficulties at visual or auditory level. The alterations also pose a risk of social exclusion for these children, since school and integration problems are common.

In terms of the incidence of this syndrome, exposure of the fetus to certain levels of alcohol is the main cause of intellectual functional diversity. is the leading cause of intellectual functional diversity in developed countries, far ahead of intellectual impairment.far above genetic alterations.

What symptoms does it present?

As described above, fetal alcohol syndrome is distinguished by presenting a series of symptoms both physical or visible, as well as organic or related to the neurological development of the baby..

The clinical picture of FAS is classified into three different symptom groups. Those related to craniofacial anomalies, alterations in the central nervous system and a delay in general development.

1. Craniofacial anomalies

There are a number of characteristic physical features that distinguish children with a diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome. These are:

• Flat nasal philtrum or flattening of the space between the nose and the upper lip.
• Narrowing of the upper lip.
• Decreased size of the palpebral fissures or abnormally small eyes. abnormally small eyes.

2. Alterations of the central nervous system

Problems or abnormalities in the development of the central nervous system can manifest themselves in different degrees, depending on the amount of alcohol to which the fetus has been exposed. This damage can be divided into three different levels:

• Alterations in the formation of the anatomical structure.These are usually expressed in the form of microcephaly or irregularities in the formation of different brain areas.
• Pathologies associated with neurological functioning such as seizures and spasms, coordination problems or sensory difficulties such as visual and hearing difficulties.
• Alterations in intellectual functioning manifested in the form of behavioral disorders, self-control problems, attention and hyperactivity problems, intellectual functional diversity, lack of social skills, memory problems, etc.

3. Generalized developmental delay

It manifests itself in the form of pathologies related to the weight and size of the baby. These tend to be below the average of healthy infants.

What causes it?

The main and only cause of the fetal alcohol syndrome is to be found in alcohol consumption by the mother during pregnancy. The alcohol present in drinks can pass into the bloodstream of the fetus through the placenta, causing all kinds of interferences and alterations in the development of the fetus.

Although it has not yet been possible to establish reliably at what level of consumption the first symptoms appear, it has been determined that the greater the amount of alcohol consumed by the mother, the greater the number of symptoms, and the more serious they will be for the baby.

In the same way, the stage of pregnancy at which alcohol consumption occurs is also decisive.The consumption of alcoholic beverages during the first trimester is even more dangerous than at any other stage.

How can it be diagnosed?

In those cases in which the medical professional suspects that there may be a possibility of fetal alcohol syndrome, there are a number of tests that can be performed. a number of tests that can be performed for diagnostic confirmation:

• Evaluation of the condition of the heart to reveal any cardiac abnormalities.
• Testing of the mother's Blood alcohol levels, provided that the mother shows signs of intoxication.
• Neuroimaging tests such as CT or MRI scans after the birth of the baby.
• Ultrasound tests during pregnancy.

Is there a treatment?

Because the injuries caused to the infant are permanent and irreversible, no treatment has been developed that has the ability to reverse these symptoms. However, the prognosis or intensity of treatment will depend on the severity of the symptoms.

As a consequence, the intervention protocol is usually limited to the treatment of cognitive symptoms such as inattention or special educational needs, in order to facilitate the child's school and social adjustment and, as a consequence, improve the child's quality of life as much as possible.