Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a condition of life-long birth defects in babies due to consumption of alcohol by their mothers during pregnancy.

Causes

• Prenatal exposure to alcohol

Symptoms

• Low birth weight and height
• Small head
• Small eyes
• Indistinct groove between nose and upper lip
• Thin upper lip
• Slow growth
• Lack of coordination
• Lack of social skills
• Learning problems
• Behavioral problems
• Heart defects
• Vision problems
• Hearing problems
• Epilepsy or seizures
• Mental retardation

Treatment
There is no cure for this syndrome but symptoms can be managed by:

• Counseling
• Special education in special schools
• Certain medications
• Surgery to correct certain defects

Prevention

• Avoiding alcohol consumption while planning to conceive and during pregnancy