What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? What are Fetal Alcohol Effects?
“Fetal alcohol syndrome” (FAS) was first described clinically in the early 1970’s. FAS is now defined as a constellation of symptoms occurring in the offspring of some women who have consumed large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy. The syndrome usually involves mental retardation, small head size, small stature and a number of other more subtle skeletal and facial abnormalities such as wide-set eyes. The syndrome has not been identified in the offspring of any women who were not active alcoholics during pregnancy. In fact, approximately one out of ten women who are alcoholic during pregnancy will deliver a child who clearly suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome, which is said to occur in one to two out of every 1,000 live births. Research and physician training programs conducted at Boston University School of Medicine have demonstrated that women alcoholics can be successfully identified and treated, reducing the risk and incidence of FAS. “Fetal alcohol effects” (FAE) is used to des
