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| Published | Editor: Susan K. Boyer, RN © RAmEx Ars Medica, Inc. All rights reserved. |
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 About Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a birth defect caused by a woman drinking heavily during pregnancy. FAS is characterized by growth retardation, abnormal facial features, and central nervous system problems. Findings indicate that the rate of frequent drinking among pregnant women increased fourfold between 1991 and 1995. Recent findings indicate that 1 in 8 women of childbearing age (18 to 44 years of age) reports "risk drinking" (7 or more drinks per week, or 5 or more drinks on any one occasion); these alcohol levels can pose a threat to the fetus should a woman be pregnant and not know it. Birth defects associated with prenatal alcohol exposure can occur in the first 3 to 8 weeks of pregnancy, before a woman even knows she is pregnant. One out of every 29 women who know they are pregnant reports risk drinking. Children with FAS can have serious lifelong disabilities, including mental retardation, learning disabilities, and serious behavioral problems. The prevalence of FAS is not known; results of studies using different methods and data sources show prevalence rates for the United States that range from 3 to 22 cases per 10,000 births. This means that each year in the United States, between 1,300 and 8,000 children are born with FAS. Many more are born with alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). Children with FAS often suffer lifelong consequences from "in utero alcohol exposure," such as mental retardation, learning disabilities, and serious behavioral problems. The National Institutes of Health estimated the annual cost of FAS in 1992 to be $1.9 billion |
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