Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026
Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats
Published on: December 14, 2014
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Israel: increased prevalence in an at-risk population
Ariel Tenenbaum1, Pnina Hertz, Talia Dor
1Medical Unit for Adoption and Foster Care, Department of Pediatrics, Hadassah University Medical Center, Mount Scopus Campus, Jerusalem, Israel. tene@hadassah.org.il
Insights
This study found 15% of high-risk children in Israel showed signs of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) or were at risk. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for affected children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Background:
- Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in offspring.
- FASD prevalence in Israel is not well-established, with few diagnosed cases.
- Systematic evaluation of FASD in high-risk populations is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of FASD and identify children at risk in a specific high-risk group.
- To evaluate foster and adopted children under two years old for FASD manifestations.
- To gather data on maternal alcohol and illicit drug use during pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- Prospective evaluation of 100 Israeli children under two years old.
- Inclusion criteria: candidates for domestic adoption or in foster care.
- Data collection included clinical FASD assessment and parental substance use history.
Main Results:
- Two children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS); two with partial FAS.
- Eleven additional children were identified as at risk for FASD.
- Eight children had mothers with reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Conclusions:
- 15% of the evaluated high-risk children exhibited FASD or were at risk.
- Findings suggest a higher FASD prevalence in Israel than previously assumed.
- Under-diagnosis of FASD hinders access to necessary interventions for affected children.
Background:
Maternal exposure to alcohol during pregnancy can lead to a wide range of clinical manifestations in their offspring, termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). In Israel, relatively few cases of FASD have been diagnosed and the prevalence has not been systematically evaluated.
Objectives:
To determine the number of children with FASD or at risk for FASD in a select population of high risk patients seen at a clinic evaluating foster and adopted children.
Methods:
Israeli children under 2 years old who were candidates for domestic adoption or in foster care were prospectively evaluated for clinical manifestations of FASD and information was obtained regarding parental use of alcohol or other illicit drugs.
Results:
Of the 100 patients prospectively evaluated, 8 had mothers with a known history of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Two of the children had fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) without known maternal exposure to alcohol and two had partial FAS. Eleven other children were at risk for development of one of the diagnostic categories of FASD.
Conclusions:
In a population of pre-adoption and foster children, 15% either had manifestations of FASD or were at risk for developing FASD. Although this is a select high risk population, the data from this study strongly suggest a greater prevalence of FASD than previously assumed. Under-diagnosis of FASD is detrimental to affected children who could benefit from interventions designed to meet the needs of FASD victims.
Related Concept Videos
01:07Teratogenicity
01:24Drug Toxicity: Risk factors
01:27CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
02:31Protection of Alcohols
Protection
It defines a protecting group as the masking agent to make the more reactive species inert to a given set of conditions. This concept is depicted via the illustration of liquid flow through different outlets in an assembly of pipes. The analogy helps to understand the role...