Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

By: Lungi Tlale

FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME

Date 13th April 2012

Understanding Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) can be identified as a birth defect caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy (O’Leary, 2006). According to Abel and Hannigan (1985, as cited in O’Leary 2006), despite the considerable amounts of research, much knowledge concerning Fetal Alcohol Syndrome remains uncertain. To be explored here, are the causes, diagnostic criteria and its prevalence in the Western Cape, to gain a better understanding of the syndrome.

Baumann, Schild, Hume and Sokol (2006 as cited in, Brannon & Feist 2006) have described Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) as malformations in foetus development, mainly accountable to alcohol during pregnancy. Substances associated with birth defects following pregnancy are medically identified as teratogens (O’Leary, 2006). The primary cause of this syndrome and similar disorders is excessive alcohol intake. Specific factors such as quantity and pattern in maternal drinking, such as binge drinking, play important roles in development of FAS.

Looking at the more physiological elements, harmful chemicals like ethanol found in alcohol are the main cause of affect brought to the embryo’s body tissues and sensitive neurons (O’Leary, 2006). As found by Nutrition Information Centre University of Stellenbosch (NICUS, c2007), the stage of pregnancy (trimester) is crucial to the child’s susceptibility to the teratogenic exposure. Here, is evidence that abnormalities develop throughout pregnancy, but the most decisive harm transpires during the 1st trimester, between 3-6weeks. This trimester is the critical timeframe when structural malformations of the fetus take place. Teratogenic properties of alcohol alter the way in which the cells of the brain, heart and face arrange or multiply themselves during the first development stages. It is noted that differences in individual maternal sensitivity to alcohol are...