Foetal Alcohol Syndrome or FASDs is the most severe of the foetal alcohol disorders. This condition is caused by a group of birth defects that can happen when someone who is pregnant drinks alcohol during her pregnancy. There are various expressions of these disorders that can range in severity. The symptoms of these disorders can be managed, but they might also be progressive in nature and grow worse over time.
Many patients with FASDs will suffer from more than one of the various possible FASDs disorders. These patients might also experience a wide array of possible symptoms, or they might only show a few symptoms of these conditions.
There are several foetal alcohol spectrum disorders:
The various FASDs can share common symptoms, which include:
The cause of FASDs is a woman drinking alcohol while she is pregnant with a child. Wine, beer, and liquor can all cause FASDs. Babies do not have fully developed livers when they are in the womb. They are not able to process or break down alcohol, which is why being exposed to it during this phase of their development can cause birth defects.
There is only one risk factor for the development of FASDs:
Diagnosis of these conditions is made with the help of a thorough medical exam. Some patients will have observable physical signs of FASDs, while others will only display behavioural changes related to this diagnosis. Various tests can also be ordered to help confirm a diagnosis of FASDs:
In some cases, mothers will reveal that they are worried about this outcome at the time of birth, which allows for the tracking of possible symptoms and signs to begin very early. These cases are often the most favourable over the long term, as early support and care can help to prevent the progression of FASDs-related complications.
FASDs last for the lifetime of the patient who has one of these conditions. There are supportive treatments that can be used to help manage some of the symptoms of patients with FASDs. The common treatment protocol usually combines behavioural therapy, counselling services, learning disability support, and medications to help support organ health problems or pain and stress that the patient is experiencing.
These patients succeed most often when diagnosed before six years of age, when they live in a loving and stable home, when they are not exposed to violence, and when they get educational and social support for their unique circumstances.
FASDs are preventable. Women who are pregnant must not drink any alcohol during their pregnancy to prevent FASDs. Women who are trying to get pregnant should abstain from alcohol as soon as they begin trying. As soon as a woman has confirmed that she is pregnant, she will need to stop drinking to protect her baby from FASDs.