Fetal alcohol syndrome by Varshasri Shanmugam

1. SYNDROME

2. CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Etiology
• Pathophysiology
• Signs and symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Prognosis

3. WHAT IS FAS ?
• Severe form of condition
referred to as Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
• Exposure to alcohol during
pregnancy
• FAS – most severe form

4. FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME
• Causes intellectual disability and physical abnormalities
• The problems caused by fetal alcohol syndrome vary from
child to child
• Defects caused by fetal alcohol syndrome are not reversible

5. September 9

6. ETIOLOGY
• Alcohol consumption during pregnancy
• Alcohol enters bloodstream like other foods consumed by the mother
the toxin enters the placenta and affects the baby
• Any amount of alcohol during pregnancy can cause foetal alcohol
syndrome.

7. HOW ALCOHOL AFFECTS FETUS?
• Foetus connected to
placenta by umbilical cord
• Receive oxygen , nutrients
and also ethanol,
acetaldehyde pass freely
through placenta

8. • Foetal liver doesn’t have
necessary enzyme like alcohol
dehydrogenase (ADH), ALDH
to metabolize them
• So, they build up inside the
foetus

9. • Ethanol interferes with
• Cell division
• Cell proliferation
• Cell growth
• Cell differentiation
• Migration of mature cells to final
location
• Affects the development of
various foetal tissues including
brain

10. • Alcohol induced brain damage include
partial or complete agenesis of the corpus
callosum, which links the two hemispheres
together, so it either forms incompletely, or
not at all
• This causes intellectual
disability and seizures
• When the frontal cortex and
the hippocampus are affected, this causes
poor memory and communication skills, as
well as intellectual disability.
• The cerebellum can also be smaller in size,
called hypoplasia, leading to trouble with
movement and balance.

11. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Physical defects:
• Growth retardation
• Small head and brain size
• Vision or hearing problems
• Joint, limb, and finger deformities
• Heart defects
• Deformities of joints limbs and finger
• Distinctive facial features like
• small eyes
• Small palpebral fissures
• thin upper lip
• Smooth philtrum

12. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Neurological problems:
• Learning problems
• Poor Coordination and balance
• Trouble reasoning
• Hyperactivity
• Moodiness
• Poor memory

13. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Behavioral issues:
• Poor social skills
• Difficulty in school
• Poor impulse control
• Trouble getting along
with others
• Trouble adapting to
change

14. DIAGNOSIS
• Prenatal alcohol
exposure
• Characteristic
symptoms
• Specific physical,
psychological and
behavioural tests

15. TREATMENT
• Brain damage due to ethanol toxicity is
permanent
• Management of the symptoms of the
disease through personalized
educational programs for children with
trouble learning, behavioral
interventions for children with
difficulties in communication, and
anti-seizure medications, social skills
training , parent training

16. PREVENTION
• No alcohol
A pregnant women
never drinks alone

17. PROGNOSIS:
• The outcome varies depending on the extent of symptoms, but
almost none have normal brain development.
• Infants and children with this condition have many different
problems which can be difficult to manage.
• Best if diagnosed early and referred to a team of providers who can
work with their families on educational and behavioral strategies that
best fit their needs.

18. REFERENCES:
1. September 9th is International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (nih.gov)
2. https://www.miraclekidz.co.za/raising-awareness-fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorders-fasd/
3. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/fas.html
4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fetal-alcohol-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20352901
5. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15677-fetal-alcohol-syndrome
6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/fetal-alcohol-syndrome
7. https://creativemeddoses.com/topics-list/fetal-alcohol-syndrome-fas/
8. https://www.webmd.com/baby/fetal-alcohol-syndrome
9. https://www.osmosis.org/learn/Fetal_alcohol_syndrome
10. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22337-placenta
11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2582739/
12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvaQLvuVYeU&t=54s
13. Fetal alcohol syndrome - ppt video online download (slideplayer.com)
14. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders FASD Treatments (news-medical.net)
15. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder – Wikipedia
16. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Microcephaly Small eye - iFunny Brazil
17. https://preventionactionalliance.org/learn/about-alcohol/fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorders/
18. http://fasdedu1153.weebly.com/different-types-of-fasd.html
19. https://www.sentinel-standard.com/story/lifestyle/family/2016/02/20/let-s-talk-about-it/32499999007/
20. https://www.memesmonkey.com/topic/funny+liver#&gid=1&pid=8

19. AVOID ALCOHOL
THANK YOU