In the US, there are more babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome HIV or Down syndrome. A child born with FAS may be seriously damaged, possibly requiring a lifetime of special care. Most FAS disabilities are caused by a pregnant woman drinks alcohol between 10 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Alcohol interferes with the fetus's ability to receive enough oxygen and food for the normal development of cells in the brain and other body organs. FAS is characterized by abnormal facial features, growth disorders and central nervous system problems. People with this syndrome have problems with learning, memory, attention, communication, vision, hearing, or a combination of these. FAS is a permanent condition and affects all aspects of life of an individual.
Spectrum Disorder Fetal Alcohol (FASD) is a term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual. SAF include TEAF and other conditions in which individuals have some, but not all the clinical signs of FAS.
In the United States, FAS rates ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 per 1000 live births. Other FASD is expected to produce about three times the FAS.
FASD is preventable if a woman does not drink alcohol during pregnancy. Parents can play an important role in encouraging mothers not to drink paper. In 1989, the US Congress passed a law forcing the warning labels to be placed on all alcoholic beverage containers. In 2005, the US Surgeon General issued an opinion on the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy to increase public awareness. It is expected that these measures will help reduce the incidence of fetal alcohol.