Fetal alcohol syndrome

Definition

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a malformation syndrome caused by maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. It is characterised by prenatal and/or postnatal growth deficiency (weight and/or height <10th percentile); a unique cluster of minor facial anomalies (short palpebral fissures, flat and smooth philtrum, and thin upper lip) that presents across all ethnic groups is identifiable at birth, and does not diminish with age. Affected children present severe central nervous system abnormalities including: microcephaly, cognitive and behavioural impairment (intellectual disability, deficit in general cognition, learning and language, executive function, visual-spatial processing, memory, and attention).

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