Infants exposed to alcohol prenatally: outcome at 3 and 7 months of age.
To investigate early recognition of the consequences of alcohol exposure in utero, we studied 79 infants at the ages of 3 and 7 months. Twenty-nine of them were exposed to varying levels of maternal alcohol intake and 50 had no exposure and formed a control group. Special attention was paid to fetal alcohol syndrome-related facial features, neurological development and behavioural performance of the infants. To monitor facial features, pictures were taken at 3 and 7 months of age. Significant differences in facial features were found between the alcohol-exposed and non-exposed children at 3 months only. An age-adequate neurological examination showed no significant difference at 3 months but a significant difference at 7 months of age between the alcohol-exposed infants and the controls. Mothers reported more misbehaviour in the exposed than in the non-exposed group. These results indicate that it is possible to recognise alcohol-related defects within the 1st year of life thus allowing early intervention.
Van Der Leeden
M
M
Faculty of Movement Sciences, Free University, Van de Boechorststraat 9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Van Dongen
K
K
Kleinhout
M
M
Phaff
J
J
De Groot
C J
CJ
De Groot
L
L
Hesseling
P B
PB
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D019066:Facies; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies