Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

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Recommended: The Effects of Maternal Alcohol Use on a Developing Fetus

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

It is a shame that in today’s "enlightened" society so many preventable diseases and disorders are still occurring. Fetal alcohol syndrome is one of these totally preventable disorders. It is one of the most frequent and important causes of mental and physical retardation in childhood today.

Only in the past decade or so have scientists identified and named this disorder. However, effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy have been suspected for quite some time. In the Old Testament the wife of Menoh is warned not to drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy (Judges 13, 2-25).

Despite all the current information about the negative effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, many people are still unaware of the complications it can cause. In one study it was found that students were aware that alcohol is a teratogenic substance, but had little knowledge as to the nature and timing of the possible negative side effects that alcohol consumption at each stage might cause (Haemmerlie, 1992).

Besides those who are unaware of the results of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, there are also those women who are aware of the consequences, but don’t care enough or have enough willpower to stop. These alcoholic mothers may know the consequences of drinking during pregnancy but are unable to stop themselves.

The effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol may have a wide range of possible effects; from life--threatening anomalies to mild problems with attention and learning. There are many symptomology’s that are characteristic of FAS children. The diagnosis of FAS can only be made when the patient has at least one abnormality in each of three categories (Sokol & Clarren, 1989): pre- and p...

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...sm, Vol. 16, No. 5, Oct. 1992, pp. 1001-1003.

Nanson, J. L. "Autism is F.A.S. - A Report of Six Cases". Alcoholism, Vol. 16, No. 3, May/June 1992, pp. 558-565.

Nanson, J. L., & Hiscock, M. "Attention Deficits in Children Exposed to Alcohol Prenatally". Alcoholism, Vol. 14, No. 5, Oct. 1990, pp. 656-661.

Niemele, O., Helmesmaki, E., & Ylikorkala, O. "Hemoglobin--acetaldehyde Adducts are Elevated in Women Carrying Alcohol-damaged Fetuses". Alcoholism, Vol. 15, No. 6 ,Dec. 1991, pp. 1007-1010.

Old Testament, Judges 13, 2-25.

Pullerkat, R. K. "Hypothesis: Prenatal Ethanol-induced Birth Defects and Retanoic Acid". Alcoholism, Vol. 15, No. 3, June 1991, pp. 565-567.

Sokol, R. J. & Clarren, S. K. "Guidelines for Use of Terminology Describing the Impact of Prenatal Alcohol on the Offspring". Alcoholism, Vol. 13, No. 4, July/August 1989, pp. 597-598.

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