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Paediatric and ophthalmologic observations in offspring of alcohol abusing mothers
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Göteborg University, Sweden.
Insights
Maternal alcohol and drug abuse during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or fetal alcohol effects (FAE) in children. Abstaining from substances during pregnancy resulted in children born without birth defects.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Obstetrics
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Maternal substance abuse during pregnancy poses significant risks to fetal development.
- Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol effects (FAE) are preventable conditions linked to prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs.
Abstract:
The offspring of nine women who had abused alcohol and drugs during pregnancy were studied. Of the 30 children, 10 had fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or fetal alcohol effects (FAE). Ophthalmological impairments associated with FAS--impaired vision, optic nerve hypoplasia, cataract, increased tortuosity of retinal vessels--were common. The severity of teratogenic lesions varied among the children and was often related to the level of abuse during pregnancy. Most women were unable to take care of their children during periods of substance abuse. All children with FAS/FAE had learning difficulties. Four mothers abstained from alcohol or drugs during some of their pregnancies and gave birth to children without birth defects.