Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Symptoms Treatments




What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - Its term used to describe the range of disorders that arise in children after exposure to alcohol during pregnancy.

They are entirely avoidable and the most common preventable cause of birth defects and brain damage in children.

The disorders in order of most to least severe are:

(1) Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
(2) Partial fetal alcohol syndrome (pFAS)
(3) Alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorders (ARND)
(4) Alcohol related birth defects (ARBD)

The more alcohol a pregnant woman drinks, the higher the risk of damage to herself and to the developing baby because of alcohol crosses the placenta and produces the same blood alcohol level in the fetal circulation.

Before few days ago, I read one article about Health Care Tips in which described that, Alcohol can damage fetal development is during the first trimester, specifically between three and six weeks, this is the time when organs are forming.

It can also increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth.

Symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome -

(1) Facial abnormalities, skeletal limb abnormalities, tremors (in the newborn infant), agitation and crying (in the newborn infant)
(2) Poor coordination/fine motor skills;Failure to thrive;Small head circumference
(3) Poor socialization skills, such as difficulty building and maintaining friendships and relating to groups.
(4) Growth, motor, and mental retardation
(5) Mental retardation and delayed development
(6) Slow physical growth before and after birth
(7) Incomplete development of genitalia

Fetal Alcohol Syndrom Treatments -

  1. Babies and children with alcohol-related damage often need developmental follow-up and, possibly, long-term treatment and care
  2. Pregnant alcoholic women should be involved in alcohol abuse rehabilitation programs and monitored closely throughout pregnancy
  3. If you're an alcoholic, don't get pregnant until you get help. Use birth control methods until you're able to control your drinking
  4. Heart abnormalities may require surgery
  5. A child with FAS may need help with social skills and memory

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