[ad_1]
According to a new study released today (Friday, Nov. 30) in up to 17% of children, up to 17% of children could exhibit symptoms consistent with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder ( FASD). Preventive medecine.
The United Kingdom has the fourth highest prenatal alcohol consumption rate in the world, but no population-based study of the number of people with FASD exists. . FASD is a group of permanent conditions caused by exposure to alcohol during pregnancy, which impair learning and behavior and can lead to physical abnormalities.
FASD is considered a relatively hidden disability, as most people do not have physical features. It is thought that he is under-diagnosed with a single specialized clinic in England.
Researchers from the University of Bristol and Cardiff University collaborated with clinicians to evaluate a wide range of information about alcohol consumption in mothers during pregnancy and have studied the development of 13,495 children from the Bristol & # 39; s Children of the 90s study.
They applied a screening tool and found that up to 79% of the children in the sample had been exposed to alcohol during pregnancy and that 17% had been screened for symptoms of alcohol. # 39; FASD. Positive screening for FASD was defined as a problem in at least three different areas of learning or behavior, with or without physical abnormalities (growth deficit and distinctive facial features, including a smooth philtrum, fine upper lip and small eye openings).
Dr. Cheryl McQuire, a researcher in epidemiology and the effects of alcohol at the University of Bristol, led the research and said:
"Our results showed that a significant number of children screened positive for features consistent with FASD. The results are based on a screening tool, which is not the same thing However, the high rates of prenatal alcohol use and relevance to FASD The symptoms that we found in our study suggest that FASD is likely to have a high incidence of prenatal alcohol use. be a major public health problem in the United Kingdom.
"These results are important because, without British estimates of the prevalence of FASD, the level of awareness will remain low and children, adolescents and adults will continue to have difficulty finding a diagnosis and gaining support. they might need.
"Although information on prenatal alcohol consumption was collected several years ago and that the indications for alcohol consumption during pregnancy have since changed, prenatal exposure rates Alcohol remained high in the UK Recent estimates suggest that three-quarters of women drink alcohol Thirdly, at excessive levels of consumption, suggesting that many members of our population could also present symptoms of FASD.
"The most recent guide states that the safest solution is to not drink alcohol at all if you are pregnant or if you are thinking of becoming pregnant." It is important for people to know that there is a risk to make an informed decision about alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
"The next steps should include follow-up studies to clarify the number of people with FASD in the UK." Some countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Italy, have had School screening and concluded that up to 10% of the general population is affected, with rates of up to 30% among children in care. "
Dr. Raja Mukherjee runs an FASD Diagnostic Clinic in Surrey and the NHS Boarders Partnership Foundation Trust and has contributed to the research. He said:
"These are very important results that show that it is likely that many people with this disorder are already missing.There seems to be a mismatch between these findings and what many clinicians often consider to be a rare disease.
"This shows that there is a seemingly hidden disorder in sight that we need to pay attention to unless we start looking for it, we will continue to miss it. not to diagnose it, people will continue to be affected by a lack of support and having a subsequent impact on them and on a wider service.These results may be the first step to help us understand that this is no longer a condition we can ignore
Sandra Butcher, Managing Director of NO-FAS UK, added:
"This study highlights an incredibly generalized and largely preventable public health crisis – no politician who cares about the mental and physical health of the most vulnerable in our society should be left alone as long as we do not have not put in place comprehensive UK-wide action and training in the UK FASD prevention, diagnosis and support that extend throughout the life of each. Babies with FASD become adults with FASD and increased support is needed at all levels. "
The advice of the medical adviser updated in January 2016 indicates that, if you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, the safest solution is not to drink alcohol at all, to minimize all risks. for your baby. It also indicates that the risk of harm is likely to be low if you drank only small amounts of alcohol before you knew you were pregnant or were pregnant.
According to the guidelines, if you discover that you are pregnant after drinking alcohol at the beginning of your pregnancy, avoid drinking more. It is also indicated that it is unlikely in most cases that your baby has been touched and that you are worried about drinking alcohol during pregnancy, talk to your doctor or your doctor. wife.
###
Notes to editors
- Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Screening in a Region of the United Kingdom: A Population-Based Birth Cohort Study Conducted by Cheryl McQuire, Raja Mukherjee, Andrea Higgins, Lisa Hurt, Giles Greene, Daniel Farewell, Alison Kemp and Shantini Paranjothy.
- This study uses a screening test that is not the same as a diagnosis and can search for potential indicators of the disease by examining individuals at risk. Screening tests usually indicate a suspicion of disease that deserves further investigation.
- Screening prevalence estimates reported in this study indicate that up to 17% of children were exposed to alcohol before birth and also showed signs of significant impairment in at least three areas of life. learning and behavior. Our study provides a starting point, but further research is needed to further clarify the current prevalence of FASD in the UK population.
- This study does not show that up to 17% of the sample have a diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Instead, it presents estimates of the prevalence of FASD screening. Expert clinical judgment was incorporated into our screening algorithm specification and validation process, but it was not possible to conduct individualized badessments of FASD to determine the diagnosis.
- The National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Clinic is the only specialized clinic in the UK to badess and treat children and adults with FASD, including neurodevelopmental disorder. and fetal alcohol syndrome badociated with alcohol.
The clinic is led by Dr. Raja Mukherjee, consulting psychiatrist, and hosted by Surrey and the Border Partnership, NHS Foundation Trust, in Redhill, Surrey. More information on https: /
/ www. fasdclinic. com / - Based at the University of Bristol, Children of the 90s, also known as the Avon Longitudinal Study on Parents and Children (ALSPAC), is a long-term health research project that has recruited over 14 000 pregnant women in 1991 and 1992. has been monitoring the health and development of parents and their children since then and is currently recruiting the children and siblings of the original child into the study. It receives core funding from the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust and the University of Bristol. Learn more about http: // www.
children of the 90s. .ac United Kingdom - NO FAS-UK (National Organization for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome * UK) is committed to helping people affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) ), their families and their communities. It promotes the education of professionals and public awareness of the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. NOFAS-UK is a source of information on FASD for the public, the press, and health and education professionals. http: // www.
NOFAS-uk. org / - The current guidelines of the Chief Medical Officer.
- Other sources of support and advice are:
Warning: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of the news releases published on EurekAlert! contributing institutions or for the use of any information via the EurekAlert system.
Source link
