Dr. Kerstin Strömland examining eyes of 5 week-old premature child (29th week birth) at a hospital for children in Göteborg, Sweden. Stömland can diagnose FAS from retinal exams. Maternal alcohol abuse causes 10% of the cases of intellectual disability in Göteborg, according to her study. The child in this photo tested okay.
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a term used to describe the damage some unborn children suffer when their mothers drink during pregnancy. Alcohol in the mother's bloodstream can be toxic to the developing fetus depending on the stage of pregnancy and how much she drinks. Damage can range from subtle to severe, causing clumsiness, behavioral problems, stunted growth, disfigurement, intellectual disability. Thousands of babies are born with alcohol-related defects each year, ranking FAS as one of the leading known causes of intellectual disability. Not all mothers who drink have babies with FAS. Some doctors believe that any alcohol puts the baby at risk, while nearly all agree that binge drinking is perilous, especially during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, when many women don't yet know they are pregnant. Fetal alcohol syndrome has a predictable long-term progression into adulthood in which maladaptive behaviors present the greatest challenge to management.
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