Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

The concept Fetal Alcohol Syndrome [3] (FAS) refers to a set of birth defects [4] that occur in children born to mothers who abused alcohol during pregnancy [5]. The alcohol-induced defects include preand post-natal growth deficiencies, minor facial abnormalities, and damage to the developing central nervous system [6] (CNS). FAS is the most serious condition physicians group under the heading of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, which also includes Alcohol-Related Birth Defects, like alcohol-induced congenital cardiac defects that are unrelated to a diagnosis of FAS, and Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders, which occur in the absence of any facial birth defects [4] or growth delays. The severity of birth defects [4] associated with FAS can vary depending on the intensity, duration, and frequency of exposure to alcohol during gestation [7]. In addition to these dose-related concerns, maternal factors such as the mother's genetics or how quickly she metabolizes alcohol, and the timing of exposure during prenatal development also impact alcohol-induced abnormalities. As birth defects [4] and anomalies can arise when pregnant women consume alcohol, alcohol is a teratogen, an environmental agent that negatively impacts the course of normal embryonic or fetal development.