Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

By Kenneth Kee

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is typically featured by incurable physical and mental defects that involve brain damage and growth disorders.
Fetal alcohol syndrome is growth, mental, and physical problems that may happen in a baby when a mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy.
It is typically featured by disorders of development and craniofacial abnormalities.
The external signs of the syndrome are:
1. A short palpebral fissure,
2. Thin upper lip, and
3. Smooth philtrum.
Consumption of alcohol during conception and the first weeks of the embryo development go together with mutagenic and cytotoxic processes.
It results in death or destruction of the embryo development.
A passive defense reaction prevailed and depression-like disorder was noticed.
They had learning and memory problems.
Fetal alcohol effects (FAEs), otherwise known as alcohol-related birth defects (ARBDs), may represent the milder end of the spectrum.
Other criteria for disorders which come under the umbrella of FASD are alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) and partial fetal alcohol syndrome (pFAS).
There are three main components of FAS:
1. Typical facial abnormalities.
2. Intrauterine growth restriction and failure to catch up.
3. Neurodevelopmental abnormalities causing learning disability, cognitive impairment and behavioral problems
Alcohol is a teratogenic substance which crosses the placenta with ease.
The development of the fetus can be affected by alcohol at any stage.
The different effects may happen depending on the stage of exposure
Not every woman who drinks heavily during pregnancy has babies with FAS and it is clear that other factors affect the vulnerability of the fetus.
These are the stage of pregnancy affected, the pattern of drinking, the health, age, stress levels and nutritional status of the mother and the use of other toxic substances, including tobacco
Genetic makeup and gene polymorphisms also strongly affect fetal susceptibility for FAS, and other genetic abnormalities can be confounded with FAS
The severity of these symptoms varies from mild to severe, and can be:
1. A small head;
2. A smooth philtrum between the upper lip and nose, small and wide-set eyes, a very thin upper lip, or other abnormal facial features;
3. Below average height and weight;
4. Hyperactivity;
5. Problems with concentration;
6. Poor coordination;
7. Delayed development and problems in thinking, speech, movement, and social skills;
8. Poor judgment;
9. Problems seeing or hearing;
10. Learning disabilities;
11. Intellectual disability;
12. Heart problems;
13. Kidney defects and abnormalities;
14. Deformed limbs or fingers;
15. Mood swings.
There is no test, so diagnosis depends on a history or suspicion of alcohol exposure in uterus and on the presence of typical clinical features.
Criteria for diagnosis vary and are better defined for FAS than other disorders within the spectrum, so it is not surprising that incidence figures are a challenge to establish.
Failure of growth
Craniofacial abnormalities
Neurodevelopmental abnormalities
Tests that may be done are:
1. Blood alcohol level in pregnant women who show signs of being drunk (intoxicated)
2. Brain imaging studies (CT or MRI) after the child is born
3. Pregnancy ultrasound
Treatment
Unfortunately, FAS cannot be treated, but still there are treatments for some symptoms.
These medicines are:
1. Antidepressants to treat problems with sadness and negativity;
2. Stimulants to cope with concentration problems, hyperactivity, and other behavioral problems;
3. Neuroleptics to treat anxiety and aggression;
4. Antianxiety drugs to deal with anxiety
Behavioral training may improve behavior, social skills.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Chap

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Kee
• Release date: Oct 12, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370275816

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

Book preview

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome,

A

Simple

Guide

To

The Condition,

Diagnosis,

Treatment

And

Related Conditions

By

Dr Kenneth Kee

M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

Copyright Kenneth Kee 2017 Smashwords Edition

Published by Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated

To my wife Dorothy

And my children

Carolyn, Grace

And Kelvin

This book describes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases which is seen in some of my patients in my Family Clinic.

(What The patient Need to Treat Fetal Alcohol Syndrome)

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If the patient would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Introduction

I have been writing medical articles for my blog http://kennethkee.blogspot.com (A Simple Guide to Medical Disorder) for the benefit of my patients since 2007.

My purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of my patients.

Health Education was also my dissertation for my Ph.D (Healthcare Administration).

I then wrote an autobiolographical account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com.

This autobiolographical account A Family Doctor’s Tale was combined with my early A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders into a new Wordpress Blog A Family Doctor’s Tale on http://kenkee481.wordpress.com.

From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 800 amazon kindle books and 200 into Smashwords.com eBooks.

Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.

For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.

The later books go into more details of medical disorders.

The first chapter is always from my earlier blogs which unfortunately tends to have typos and spelling mistakes.

Since 2013, I have tried to improve my spelling and writing.

As I tried to bring the patient the latest information about a disorder or illness by reading the latest journals both online and offline, I find that I am learning more and improving on my own medical knowledge in diagnosis and treatment for my patients.

Just by writing all these simple guides I find that I have learned a lot from your reviews (good or bad), criticism and advice.

I am sorry for the repetitions in these simple guides as the second chapters onwards have new information as compared to my first chapter taken from my blog.

I also find repetition definitely help me and maybe some readers to remember the facts in the books more easily.

I apologize if these repetitions are irritating to some readers.

Chapter 1

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

What is Fetal alcohol syndrome?

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is typically featured by incurable physical and mental defects that involve brain damage and growth disorders.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is growth, mental, and physical problems that may happen in a baby when a mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is one of the most serious diseases (birth defects called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders) that may happen