Question

What characterizes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)?

Answer 1

Answer: The Fetal Alcohol Syndrom is a group of symptoms that a child develops after birth (and in some case even before birth) if the mother of the child had consumed alcohol during pregnancy. The amount of permissible alcohol consumption during pregnancy is not a standard count, it is advisible to stop consumption of alcohol during pregnancy.

Alcohol effects the child inside the womb by the following mechanisms:

1.) Alcohol can pass through the placenta and effects the fetus.

2.) Fetal liver does not produce Alcohol Dehydrogenase to metabolize alcohol, hence when consumed by fetus following mother's consumption of alcohol, it effects various organs like liver, kidney etc. negatively.

3.) Alcohol has toxic effect to the developing central nervous system (CNS) of the fetus. It affects the differentiation of nervous system and hence development of CNS is compromised.

Based on the mechanism of how alcohol reaches unborn child through mother during pregnancy, a child can have following types of disorders:

A) Central Nervous System: Due to compromised CNS, child may face problem in processing information, trouble in reasoning and judgement, bad memory, delay in development and so on.

B) Physical Disorders: Growth may be stunted before or after birth, deformities of limbs, organ defects, trouble with vision or hearing and so on.

C) Behavioral Disorders: Poor communication skills, lack of concentration, lack of attention on a parrticular job, poor control of impulses etc.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrom (FAS) is caused to prenatal or child after birth due to harmful and toxic effect of alcohol when the mother consumes alcohol during pregnancy. Due to genetic polymorphism of hepatic enzymes required for alcohol metabolism in human, no standard amount can be determined. Hence, complete prohibition of alcohol is advisible during pregnancy.