Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
FAS is the mental and physical defects of a baby at birth. These effects are a result of a woman drinking and the time that she is pregnant. It is a terrible disease that affects the child and the family during the child's lifetime.
Some facial characteristics are: (abnormally) small head, low nasal bridge, (abnormally) small eyes, flat mid face, short nose and a thin upper lip. Other characteristics include: brain damage, growth complications, organ defects (Heart and Liver) and behavioral problems. Children with FAS also can suffer from: poor coordination, problems with learning and short memories. Mental health problems is a big issue too. These children may experience drug and alcohol problems, trouble with the law, difficulty in caring for themselves ( and others) and inappropriate sexual behavior. These effects are entirely irreversible and they last a lifetime.The sad part is, that FAS is 100% preventable yet it is the most common cause of birth defects. There is no cure or treatment for it either. It is very important to diagnose the child with FAS though. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder are the most common disorders. .
A child with FAS requires more care than a child who doesn't have FAS. Medical, clinical and educational interventions need to be provided.( Special education is usually needed due to learning disabilities and behavior problems.) The child must be surrounded in nurturing surroundings in order to develop. The child must also have a strong relationship with her/his parents. Therapy is also a good idea for these children. It's where the child can focus on behavior problems, hyperactivity and any other complications that they might have.
Caring for a child with FAS is very expensive also. Medical costs (over a lifetime) can range from $1.5-$2 million.
The only thing that a woman can do to prevent this from happening is to decrease the amount of alcohol she drinks during pregnancy.
