A group of various conditions is known as fetal alcohol syndrome, which are visible in children whose mothers have consumed alcoholic beverages during pregnancy. The baby can be affected by those alcohol consumptions at any stage of pregnancy, including the first weeks when many times the woman does not know that she is generating an infant.
The effects that alcohol can cause in the child could be physical or behavioral such as difficulty in learning, understanding, communicating, socializing, controlling emotions or leading a normal life, which can prevent them from performing daily tasks such as dressing or feed. These alterations last a lifetime, so it is essential to seek help if you cannot get rid of alcoholic beverages and you find yourself pregnant. To know in depth the characteristics of this condition, we invite you to continue reading the following article by FastlyHealon fetal alcohol syndrome: symptoms and characteristics .
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Causes of fetal alcohol syndrome
Consuming alcohol during pregnancy can produce the same risks as those caused by ingesting this substance regularly in any person, however, there are additional risks for the fetus because it is a being that is not yet formed and that the substance it easily crosses the placenta to the baby, which causes a large percentage of the alcohol to be absorbed by the baby.
There is no type of safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, so it is essential that this type of drink is abandoned and, in case of not being able, it is important to turn to a specialist. It is believed that the greater the amount of consumption, the problems it generates increase considerably and, during the first trimester of pregnancy , consuming this substance can be even more harmful .
Fetal alcohol syndrome: symptoms and characteristics
There are different symptoms and characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome, abbreviated SAF, that can significantly help to know if a minor suffers from this disorder. This is very important if you want to identify fetal alcohol syndrome in adopted children, as well as in any other case in which the mother has consumed alcohol without knowing that she was pregnant. The most typical characteristics of the syndrome include:
- Low birth weight
- The head circumference is smaller
- A delay in knowledge and development is demonstrated
- There is a dysfunction of one or more organs
- Has facial abnormalities such as eyes that are smaller than normal
- The nasolabial fold is underdeveloped
- Cheeks are flattened
On the other hand, children with APS can suffer from:
- Epilepsy
- Coordination and motor difficulties
- They have difficulty maintaining social relationships or relating in large groups.
- Boys with this alteration tend to have a lack of imagination and little curiosity.
- Suffer from learning disabilities
- They have little memory
- Little ability to understand different concepts such as time and fully understand language.
- People with fetal alcohol syndrome have a poor ability to solve problems and difficulties in behavior, as they tend to be hyperactive, cannot concentrate easily, are impulsive, anxious and stubborn.
Is there a treatment for APS?
It is important to be aware that consuming alcohol can lead to great problems at any time in life and, for a fetus developing in the mother’s belly, they can be even more important. This is why the main treatment for fetal alcohol syndrome is its prevention, and it is important to abandon this behavior and, if unable to do so due to addiction, resort to a rehabilitation center that provides guidance and support to overcome it.
On the other hand, in those children who have APS, treatment will be linked to different therapies that can help them lead a normal life, such as turning to professionals to improve their power of language, understanding and behavior . This is very important since, as the child grows, it is usually more difficult to help him overcome some characteristics of his pathology and, as an adult, he will have a great inability to lead an independent life.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Fetal alcohol syndrome: symptoms and characteristics , we recommend that you enter our category of Mental disorders .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.