Fas (fetal alcohol syndrome): symptoms, causes, etc. & bull; hello healthy

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Definition

What is FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome)?

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition characterized by mental and physical abnormalities in newborns due to the effects of alcohol.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a birth defect or abnormality in infants that results from consumption of alcohol during pregnancy, causing brain damage and growth problems in the fetus.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is one of a kind f etal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. This condition causes a variety of physical symptoms, behavior and learning difficulties.

The severity of the signs and symptoms caused by FAS varies from child to child. The birth defect caused by FAS cannot be cured.

So, if you drink alcohol during your pregnancy, you increase the risk of the fetus developing FAS at birth.

If you suspect your baby has fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS because of the symptoms it shows, you should consult your doctor immediately.

Early diagnosis can help babies get the right treatment to reduce the chance of FAS problems such as learning difficulties and behavior problems later in life.

How common is this condition?

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition or congenital defect in newborns that is at risk if the mother drinks alcohol while pregnant.

Based on this explanation, fetal alcohol syndrome is also a risk for women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

The more alcohol the mother drinks during pregnancy, the more likely it is that there will be interference with the fetus in the womb.

Launching from the Mayo Clinic page, it is not known the amount or dose of alcohol that is safe to drink during pregnancy.

Therefore, you are strongly advised to avoid drinking alcohol while pregnant in order to maintain the health of the fetus in the womb.

The reason is, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is very risky to the fetus. Babies born with abnormalities or defects due to FAS usually have a different face from other children, have growth problems, and problems with the central nervous system.

In addition, disorders related to the learning process, memory (memory), focus, communication, sight, and hearing may also be experienced by infants with FAS.

As a result, children who experience FAS from birth often experience difficulties while studying at school and have difficulty interacting with other people.

Signs & Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome)?

Symptoms that occur in a baby with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) includes physical disabilities, disorders of the nervous system and brain, disorders in thinking, and disorders in socializing.

FAS-related physical disabilities can include a characteristic facial appearance. Take for example the size of the small eyes, the very thin upper lip, the short and inverted nose, and the smooth surface of the skin between the nose and the upper lip.

In some cases, babies with FAS can also develop abnormalities in the joints, legs, fingers and toes.

The physical growth of babies with FAS is slow, both before and after birth. Babies with FAS may have difficulty hearing or have other hearing problems.

Defects of the baby's heart, kidneys, bones, brain, and central nervous system can also occur due to FAS.

Disorders of the brain and central nervous system in infants are usually indicated by poor coordination or balance and delayed learning and development.

Babies also tend to have weak memories, have trouble understanding things, and have trouble solving problems. Other symptoms of FAS include hyperactivity and mood swings.

When they get older, children who get FAS have a greater chance of having difficulty learning at school, getting along with other people, and adapting.

Broadly speaking, the severity of symptoms due to FAS or fetal alcohol syndrome is not always the same in every child who experiences it.

There are children with FAS who experience quite severe symptoms, but there are also those who tend to be mild.

However, signs and symptoms fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can include physical disorders, cognitive or intelligence related disorders, and disorders related to bodily functions.

To be clearer and more detailed, various symptoms fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are as follows:

Physical problems for children

Various problems in the physical consequences of children fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are as follows:

• Has a characteristic facial condition or features. For example the eyes are small, the upper lip is very thin, the nose is short and small, and the surface of the skin between the nose and upper lip feels smooth
• The physical growth of the baby slows down before birth and after birth
• The size of the baby's head circumference is small and the size of the brain is small
• Experiencing deformities in the shape of the joints, limbs and fingers
• Experiencing impaired vision and hearing loss
• Experiencing problems with the heart organ, kidney problems, and bone problems
• Experiencing disorders related to the central nervous system, including the brain

Problems with the brain and central nervous system of children

Various problems with the brain and central nervous system of children result fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are as follows:

• Experiencing poor body coordination and balance function
• Experiencing intellectual impairments, learning disabilities, and delays in development
• Has poor memory skills
• Experiencing behavioral and social problems (when interacting with others)
• Children tend to be restless and overactive (hyperactive)
• Difficult to focus and difficulty in processing information
• Rapid mood swings
• Having difficulty solving problems

Problems with the child's bodily functions and how to interact with others

Various problems with the child's bodily functions result fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are as follows:

• Has difficulty interacting with other people
• Experiencing poor social skills
• Having difficulty adapting or moving from one activity to another
• Experiencing problems related to behavior and control of the body's nervous system
• Difficulty in activities
• Having trouble planning something

When to see a doctor?

If you are currently pregnant and find it difficult to break the habit of drinking alcoholic beverages, you should ask for help from an obstetrician.

Telling your doctor about your drinking habits while pregnant can also help reduce the risk of the fetus developing related disorders fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

You are advised not to wait until the problem actually arises before seeking help.

In essence, any problems experienced by children related to behavior and the learning process should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a congenital birth defect that can generally be observed from a newborn. If you see a baby having the symptoms above or other questions, consult a doctor immediately.

The health condition of each person's body is different, including babies. Always consult a doctor in order to get the best treatment regarding the health condition of your baby.

Cause

What causes FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome)?

When you are pregnant and drink alcoholic beverages, it can easily enter your bloodstream.

From your bloodstream, alcohol will be absorbed by the developing fetus through the placenta. In fact, a fetus that is still in this developmental period is not able to process alcohol in its body like an adult.

Alcohol that enters the fetus' body can result in higher levels in the fetal blood than in the blood in your body. This is because the metabolic process or digestion of alcohol in the fetus is slower than in adults.

This can cause disruption in the delivery of optimal oxygen and nutrients to the developing fetus.

That is why drinking alcohol while pregnant can harm the development of the baby's tissues and organs. Not only that, babies are also at risk of permanent brain damage.

The more alcohol you drink while pregnant, the greater the risk your baby has fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). This is even more so if you drink alcohol during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Because in the first trimester or early pregnancy, the fetus is in the main development stage.

Your baby's heart, brain, and blood vessels are developing in the first few weeks of pregnancy, even before you even know you are pregnant.

Any damage or disturbance to the condition of the face, heart, bones, central nervous system, and other organs can occur as a side effect of drinking alcohol in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Even so, the baby experiences risks fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) due to drinking alcohol during pregnancy can occur at any gestational age.

Risk Factors

What increases your risk of getting FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome)?

Risk fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) not only from the mother who is pregnant, but also from the influence of the father.

Children with this disorder may have low birth weight, impaired brain development, and learning disabilities.

The problem is that changes in genes in the body of the father who likes to drink alcoholic beverages can also be passed on to the child even though the mother did not drink alcohol before or during pregnancy.

So, if the father also likes to consume alcohol before the fetus is formed, there is a possibility that the child will be born with symptoms fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

Likewise, for women who like to drink alcohol before becoming pregnant are also very at risk of causing FAS.

The habit of drinking alcohol for the mother can endanger the health of the fetus in the womb, even before the mother knows that she is pregnant.

It's good to avoid drinking alcohol to reduce the risk fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) if you are in several conditions such as:

• Is pregnant
• Likely to feel pregnant
• Are planning a pregnancy

The more alcohol you drink during pregnancy, the more likely your baby is to develop FAS.

You can harm your baby before you even know you are pregnant.

So to prevent FAS, you shouldn't drink alcohol if you are pregnant or you are trying to get pregnant.

Complications

What are the possible complications due to FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome)?

Although not immediately visible at birth, various behavioral problems can also occur as a result fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

Various complications due to behavioral disorders fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are as follows:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
• Children drink alcohol and use illegal drugs.
• The child has mental health problems, such as depression, eating disorders (eating disorder), and anxiety.
• Children often have problems at school.
• Children have difficulty living independently.
• Children have problems related to sexual behavior.
• Children have inappropriate social behavior and violate rules and laws.

Diagnosis & Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the usual tests to diagnose this condition?

The sooner the diagnosis is made, the better it will be for the health and development of the baby later.

Doctors can diagnose the possibility of FAS in a newborn by performing a physical examination, citing Kids Health.

This physical examination aims to show if there is a heart murmur or other problems related to the baby's heart organ.

As the baby grows, various symptoms fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can be seen more. Apart from physical examination, diagnosis fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can also be done by:

• Describe the amount and frequency of drinking alcohol. The amount and frequency of drinking alcohol will help your doctor know the risk of FAS your baby is experiencing.
• Watch for symptoms of FAS in infants early in life. The appearance of FAS symptoms in babies can help monitor their physical and brain development.

Not only from physical, diagnosis fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) also aims to determine cognitive abilities, language development, and social and behavioral problems.

What are the treatment options for FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome)?

There is no medicine and special treatment for it fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in the fetus. If the baby has physical disabilities and mental problems at birth, these conditions usually persist for life.

However, various treatments can help improve the condition of the baby with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), namely:

• Treatments to help baby's ability to walk, talk, and social interactions.
• Specialized care in schools to support infant learning behavior and abilities.
• Care for children assisted by teachers, speech therapists, physical therapists, and psychologists.
• Medical care to treat baby health problems, such as vision problems and heart problems.
• Counseling for families to handle children's behavior.
• Administration of drugs to help control the symptoms experienced by children.

Prevention

What are the ways that can be done to prevent FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome)?

Simply, the way to prevent FAS is to not drink alcohol at all before or during pregnancy.

There are many ways to help prevent fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are as follows:

Avoid drinking alcohol when planning and while pregnant

If you continue to drink alcohol, you should stop immediately when you find out you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

It's never too late to quit drinking alcohol. The sooner you stop drinking alcohol, the better it is for the health of the fetus in the womb.

Try to continue to avoid alcohol during pregnancy

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a birth defect that can be prevented if the mother does not drink alcohol while pregnant. So, make sure you do this to help maintain the growth and development of the baby in the womb.

Consider giving up alcohol during your childbearing years

For those of you who really want a pregnancy, you should start quitting the hobby of drinking alcohol if you are sexually active and have sex without a condom.

This is because pregnancy can occur at any time with both conditions and there is a high risk if you are still drinking alcohol, especially in the early stages of pregnancy.

Get a doctor's help

If you have trouble quitting alcohol, it's best to ask a doctor for help. The doctor can suggest treatment to help stop your drinking habit according to the level of dependence.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.