Prenatal alcohol exposure

Abstract

As in other countries, alcohol consumption is one of the major public health problems in Mexico, especially in people of reproductive age. Its consumption during pregnancy could have even more serious and irreversible consequences than those observed in adults, due to the immaturity in the baby’s organs. Currently, the set of alterations caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy is named Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, the most serious disorder is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which involves a series of alterations manifested in the growth of the fetus and of the baby, craniofacial features, nervous system alterations and cognitive and behavioral alterations. The presence of these signs or symptoms depend on the amount and time of alcohol intake by the mother, as well as the period of pregnancy; the earlier the exposure to alcohol, the more serious the health consequences of the baby and greater will be the number of affected organs. On the other hand, there are other factors related to the impact that alcohol will have, such as the mother's age and nutritional status, genetic and environmental factors. Because the damage is irreversible, there is no treatment for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, so the best way is prevention and zero tolerance during pregnancy to alcohol.