EFFECTS OF PRENATAL ALCOHOL EXPOSURE ON CHILD HEALTH

Introduction. Child’s health formation is largely determined by the course of the period of intrauterine development. Exposure to ethanol, which has a toxic and teratogenic effect on the fetus, can lead to impaired development of organs and systems, primarily the central nervous system with subsequent development of disability. The relevance of the problem of antenatal influence on the formation of children’s health is related to a fairly high frequency of alcohol consumption among pregnant women, which requires the development of a set of preventive measures. Materials and Methods. The article reviews the literature on the mechanisms of prenatal alcohol exposure to the fetus and the health status of children whose mothers used alcohol during pregnancy and presents the authors’ own clinical observation of a newborn child born to a mother with alcohol abuse. Results. According to the literature, in the fetal body, alcohol has both direct toxic effects causing cell death due to oxidative stress or damage to mitochondrial DNA with subsequent inhibition of its repair and teratogenic effects. The range of disorders that occurs in a child as a result of prenatal alcohol exposure to the fetus includes: fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS); partial fetal alcohol syndrome; alcoholic neurodevelopmental disorder; alcohol-related birth defects, and prenatal alcohol-related neurobehavioural disorder. A child born to a mother with alcohol abuse had the signs of intrauterine developmental delay and manifistations of craniofacial dysmorphism. The course of the early neonatal period was complicated by the development of withdrawal and convulsive syndrome. According to the results of an instrumental examination, the child was diagnosed with a congenital brain defect. After stabilization of the condition against the background of symptomatic treatment, the child was discharged with appropriate recommendations for dynamic monitoring and implementation of rehabilitation measures. Conclusion. Clinical observation of a child with FAS in the neonatal period correlates with data from the literature on the impact of high doses of alcohol on fetal development, which leads to the formation of congenital malformations, mainly in the central nervous system and complicates the course of postnatal adaptation due to severe neurological disorders. Awarness of healthcare professionals and the public of the danger of alcohol consumption by pregnant women, timely diagnosis and implementation of comprehensive therapeutic programmes for children with FAS in Ukraine will help to improve their development, social adaptation, and quality of life.