Prevalencia del síndrome alcohólico-fetal entre desnutridos crónicos del consultorio O'Higgins en Concepción

Abstract

One of the three main clinical features of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is retardation of pre-natal and/or post-natal growth, which later transform itself into malnutrition. After the diagnosis of over 500 cases of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in children’s institutions in the VIII Region, prevalence of the syndrome among chronically undernourished children at Consultorio O’Higgins in Concepcion is investigated.The anthropometrical files of undernourished children between 1980 and 1986 were studied using Sempe’s Weight/Age tables and NCHS’s Weigh- t/Height tables. History of maternal alcoholism was investigated and the children were examined. 0f 224 chronically undernourished children, 20 (9%) showed the syndrome, 12 fully and 8 partially. The majority also showed symptoms of primary malnutrition and environmental deprivation. Weight was regained at school age, but the psychomotor back-wardness and intellectual deficiency did not improve. Many attended special educational centres. Others were involved in vagrancy and beggary. 0! the 20 Fetal Alcohol Syndrome carriers, 8 were in an unstable situation. 0f the 17 mothers, 2 died of cirrhosis, 6 were excessive drinkers and. 4 suffered from cirrhosis. The importance of primary prevention in roder to avoid malnutrition, mental deficiency and social maladjustment in alcoholics’ offspring is emphasized.