Fetal alcohol syndrome

[Hina Muqadas]

Alcohol exposure in utero increases the risk of spontaneous abortion, decreases birth weight, and can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, a constellation of variable physical and cognitive abnormalities.
At birth, infants with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can be identified by small stature and a typical set of facial traits including microcephaly, microphthalmia, short palpebral fissures, epicanthal folds, a small or flat midface, a flat elongated philtrum, a thin upper lip, and a small chin. Abnormal palmar creases, cardiac defects, and joint contractures may also be evident.
After birth, cognitive deficits become apparent. The most serious manifestation is severe intellectual disability, which is thought to be a teratogenic effect of alcohol given the high number of intellectually disabled infants of alcoholic women; Fetal alcohol syndrome may be the most common cause of noninherited intellectual disability.