Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

 

• Variable incidence
• Alcohol easily crosses the placenta
• Binge drinking thought to be worse than chronic ingestion

 

Clinical features

• Small palpebral fissures & small eyes
• Smooth philtrum
• Small 5th toenail
• Microcephaly
• Growth retardation
• Hypotonia
• Punctate calcification on epiphyses  (x-ray)
• Mental impairment

 

Complications

• Cardiac defects e.g VSD, ASD, Tetralogy
• ↑ risk of miscarriage & still-birth
• Genetic risk of EtOH abuse
• Developmental delay

 

Bibliography

Campbell A, & McIntosh N. Forfar & Arneil's Textbook Of Paediatrics - 4th Edition. Churchhill Livingstone 1992