Failure to Recognize Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Newborns

摘要

The fetal alcohol syndrome occurs in infants whose mothers abusea lcohol during pregnancy. Identifying alcohol-exposed newborns is difficult. Currently, there is no systematic approach, nor definitive laboratory tool to diagnose such cases. In the past 2 years, we studied the medical records of 8 infants with clinical characteristics associated with fetal alcohol syndrome, presented in our department for failure to thrive, seizures, minor respiratory and digestive diseases, and mental retardation. Physical examinations of these infants revealed primary features consistent with a diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome in all: depressed nasal bridge, ante verted nostrils, long and hypo-plastic philtrum, thin upper vermilion, mid-face hypoplasia. Early identification of an alcohol-exposed newborn infant with physical characteristics, could receive intensive follow-up and have appropriate guidance.