Dados do Trabalho

Título

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS): Consequences for the fetus and impairments in child development.

Resumo

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol is the most consumed psychoactive drug worldwide. Its metabolization happens more slowly in women, taking into account their body structure, increasing the risk of pathologies associated with its consumption, even if it is moderate. However, the demand for alcohol by women has become an issue of public health concern, especially when it occurs during pregnancy, causing harmful effects to the fetus during pregnancy, postpartum, and during the child's development, which is called FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). Children with FAS have characteristic facial alterations, prenatal and/or postnatal growth restriction, and structural and/or functional abnormalities of the central nervous system (CNS). They may present other congenital malformations, learning and memory difficulties, and functional, emotional, and behavioral problems. Currently, alcohol is considered the most common fetal teratogenic agent, but it is still neglected by many health professionals. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to relate alcohol consumption during pregnancy with fetal neurological malformation, as well as to address ways to prevent this situation. METHODS: This is a scientific study that allows a broad approach to fetal alcohol syndrome. The textual search was restricted to scientific publications from the SCIELO and PUBMED databases during the month of May of this year, using publications from the last 13 years with the following descriptors: Pregnant Women; Alcohol; Consequences for the fetus. Original articles indexed in the period between 2009 and 2021 were included and articles that do not have such descriptors and are not within the delimited period were excluded. RESULTS: The harmful effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy were confirmed and identified, especially regarding its consequences for the fetus and impairments in child development throughout life. In addition, ways to prevent this worrying issue for public health were addressed. CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption by pregnant women can lead to irreversible neurological consequences for the fetus, postpartum, and throughout the child’s development. This psychoactive drug is considered the most common fetal teratogenic agent, becoming a major public health problem. However, this situation is preventable if the woman abstains from drinking alcohol before conception and during pregnancy. In addition, they need to be routinely screened by health professionals for alcohol use during prenatal care.

Palavras Chave

Pregnant Women; Alcohol; Consequences for the fetus.