The effect of fetal alcohol syndrome on the mental and physical development of a preschool child: a clinical case

Abstract

The article describes a clinical case demonstrating the effect of fetal alcohol syndrome on a preschool child's development, demonstrating the challenging diagnosis of this disorder, often leading to irreversible congenital mental and physical defects. The challenging diagnosis is because doctors are unaware of the mother's alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Doctors may suspect that the child has Fetal alcohol syndrome, according to the presence of facial dysmorphism and the state of health of the mother (pronounced signs of alcohol dependence). The clinical manifestations of the adverse effects of alcohol on the development of the child described in the article indicate the need to organize early diagnosis and comprehensive habilitation.

Keywords

• alcohol
• pregnancy
• fetal alcohol syndrome
• mental retardation
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• facial dysmorphism
• fetal alcohol spectrum disorders