Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (cont.)
How is the diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome made?
The diagnosis of FAS must be based on solid evidence. FAS is a diagnosis
of great importance for the entire lifetime of the child, not to speak of
its implications for the child's mother and other family members.
To establish a diagnosis of FAS, by convention, the following minimal
criteria are met:
- small size and weight before and after birth (pre- and postnatal
retardation)
- specific appearance of the head and face with at
least two of the three following groups of sign: small head size (microcephaly), small
eyes (microphthalmia) and/or short eye openings (palpebral fissures, and/or
underdevelopment of the upper lip, indistinct groove between the lip and nose
(the philtrum), and flattened cheekbones
- brain involvement with evidence for delay in development, intellectual
impairment, or neurologic abnormalities
These criteria are used for the following reasons:
- FAS can be difficult to diagnose at and after birth;
- FAS can easily be confounded with many other disorders;
- there is no one clinical feature that
specifically identifies FAS; and
- there is no laboratory test to aid in the
diagnosis.
 |
A characteristic pattern of mild facial anomalies associated with FAS include small eye openings, a thin upper lip, or flattened ridges between the base of the nose and the upper lip (a flattened philtrum).
Source: Warren, K.R., and Foudin, L.L. Alcohol-related birth defects-the past, present, and future.
Alcohol Research & Health 25(3):153-158, 2001. (Image from NIAAA) |
Next: What is the diagnosis "fetal alcohol effects"? »
- Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Learn alcohol abuse and alcoholism causes, symptoms, treatment and medication facts. What are warning signs of a drinking problem? Is this a hereditary disease?
- Learning Disabilities - Read about learning disabilities, like the skills affected such as reading, writing, listening, speaking, reasoning, and mathematics. Causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment information is included.
- Pregnancy Planning - The goals of pregnancy planning are to create a healthy environment for the fetus and to prevent birth defects and other pregnancy related problems.
Latest Medical News
Pregnancy RSS