FASD The Course > Module 2: Effects of Alcohol on the Fetus > 11. Organ and Skeletal Damage
Module 2: Effects of Alcohol on the Fetus
Organ and Skeletal Damage
Prenatal alcohol exposure can lead to growth deficiencies such as:
- Low birth weight
- Failure to gain weight over time, not due to malnutrition
- Disproportionately low weight to height
- Low length/height or weight in first year of life, especially below the 10th percentile
The skeletal system and organs may also be affected in the following ways:
Skeletal Abnormalities
- Underdeveloped nails
- Shortened fifth digits
- Fused bones in forearms, fingers, toes, hands
- Bent fingers
- Permanent bending of one or more finger joints
- Sunken chest or protrusion of the chest over the sternum
- Fusion of any two neck vertebrae
- Failure of one side of a vertebra to form normally
- Curvature of the spine
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Heart Defects
- Atrial septal defect (failure of the wall between the right and left atria to close completely)
- Ventricular septal defect (a hole in the wall between the lower chambers)
- Abnormal great vessels
- Tetralogy of Fallot, a group of four heart defects involving the ventricles and arteries
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Craniofacial Anomalies
- Cleft palate
- Small eye openings
- Thin upper lip
- Smooth philtrum (the groove under the nose)
- Flat midface
- Pointed chin
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Kidney and Other Internal Organ Problems
- Defective kidney function
- Abnormal growth or underdeveloped kidneys
- Horseshoe kidneys
- Ureteral duplications
- Cysts caused by obstructed urine flow
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Respiratory Dysfunction
- Inhibited cell growth, resulting in underdeveloped lungs
- Tendency to get lung disease
- More frequent and severe lower respiratory infections in children
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Vision and Hearing Problems
- Misalignment of the eyes
- Retinal vessel anomalies
- Lens flaws
- Cornea deformities
- Refractive problems
- Hearing loss
- Auditory processing problems
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