Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Alcohol use and abuse during pregnancy is common among women in the United States. A national survey found that 59% of women ages 15 - 44 drank alcohol while pregnant. Sixty-six percent of these pregnant women reported alcohol use in their first trimester, 57 percent in the second trimester, and 54 percent in their third trimester (SAMHA, 1998). Prenatal alcohol exposure can have permanent adverse effects on a developing fetus. There are five classifications of prenatal alcohol exposure and the most severe outcome on the spectrum is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS is a clinical diagnosis applied to children who have been exposed to alcohol during gestation and exhibit abnormalities in their physical and cognitive development. To meet the current diagnostic criteria a child must have symptoms in each of the following three areas: (1) growth deficiency (2) abnormalities in facial and skull structure; and (3) central nervous......

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Title: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Approximate Word Count: 3970
Approximate Pages: 16 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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