Fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects, psicomotor development

Abstract

Alcohol has been established as a teratogenic agent that in prenatal exposure can cause a variety of adverse pregnancy outcomes depending on dose, timing and conditions of exposure. Alcohol like many other teratogens, can cause alterations in morphology, growth and neurobehavioraldevelopment. We were interested to study the neurobehavioral outcome of two groups of infants who were evaluated by a specialist (genetist) in a Close Nutritional Recovery Center for Secondary Malnutrition. We diagnosed 20 FAS and II FAE of the same age and socioeconomic level. Both groups stayed the same number of days in the Center, being discharged on day 96th. Their psychomotor abilities were evaluated at admission and discharge by the same professional, using DENVER. The EFA group performed better for gross and fine motor abilities p<0.01 and 0.026 respectively but they did not show significant differences for language performance. We conclude that alcohol has teratogenic effects on the fetus that affects craneal size and psichomotor development, specially on motor abilities