What syndrome can result from alcohol use during pregnancy?

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a condition that arises from alcohol exposure in utero during pregnancy. This syndrome is characterized by a range of physical, behavioral, and cognitive impairments that can occur in the offspring as a result of the mother consuming alcohol while pregnant. The severity of the syndrome can vary depending on factors such as the amount and timing of alcohol exposure during development.

Key features of fetal alcohol syndrome often include growth deficiencies, facial abnormalities (such as a smooth philtrum, thin upper lip, and small palpebral fissures), and central nervous system dysfunction, which can manifest as developmental delays and learning disabilities. The critical window for the development of fetal alcohol syndrome is during the first trimester, but exposure later in pregnancy can also have significant adverse effects.

In contrast, neonatal abstinence syndrome occurs in newborns who were exposed to drugs in utero, and hemolytic disease of the newborn typically arises from Rh incompatibility. Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite and is unrelated to alcohol exposure. Thus, fetal alcohol syndrome specifically highlights the detrimental effects of prenatal alcohol consumption on a developing fetus.